I can't speak for anyone else. As a child I believed that Socialist forms of government made sense. Let's help everyone. We have the resources. As I grew up and delved deeper into human nature and the markets, I came to understand that free markets with a limited form of government are a better way to operate. It is merely my opinion. The market prices the cost of capital, which then pursues risky ventures which in turn creates wealth. That means jobs, taxes, products to consume, etc. If you think another system is preferable, then fine. When 4% of the world's population accounts for 20% of global GDP, I think it validates much about our system. If folks want to move the goal posts and have a different measure of success, then I can't help you there.

Now that unions have done the dirty work like that pesky 40 hr week, overtime pay, weekends off, and living wages we don't need them anymore so Really.Smart.Rich.Guys. can work on destroying them and putting people back in their low wage earning place.

The thing is, not everyone is starting from the same place. People pay lip service to merit, but most don't really want and wouldn't thrive in a true meritocracy.

I don't have the answers. But it makes me shake my head when I hear people complain of being "taxed to the brink". The brink of what? Not being able to buy another flat screen? Naturally, capitalism works okay from a practical perspective. It's based on greed. And unfortunately, modern man is a greedy creature. Whether that's the inherent nature of man or a behavior learned via cultural input, I'm not sure. Maybe a little bit of both.

Now that unions have done the dirty work like that pesky 40 hr week, overtime pay, weekends off, and living wages we don't need them anymore so Really.Smart.Rich.Guys. can work on destroying them and putting people back in their low wage earning place.

The thing is, not everyone is starting from the same place. People pay lip service to merit, but most don't really want and wouldn't thrive in a true meritocracy.

I don't have the answers. But it makes me shake my head when I hear people complain of being "taxed to the brink". The brink of what? Not being able to buy another flat screen? Naturally, capitalism works okay from a practical perspective. It's based on greed. And unfortunately, modern man is a greedy creature. Whether that's the inherent nature of man or a behavior learned via cultural input, I'm not sure. Maybe a little bit of both.

I was in a union and it was a fucking scam. Union leaders are parasites on both the company and the worker. The ultimate scam.

Now you sound like Seacrest. And neither of you is actually talking about unions. You're talking about corruption.

I can tell you one thing for sure, a lot of people will be begging to unionize once Bezos convinces his rich friends that the "right" way to run a busInes is to measure their piss breaks with a stopwatch.

We HAVE child labor laws.
.

I've never been in a union, but I can easily see what life for the working person would be like without them.

SPOILER ALERT
It wouldn't be pretty.

I believe it was JORR who once said something to the effect of "If it were legal, businesses would work people death and think nothing of it."

If slavery and child labor were legalized tomorrow, corporations would be lining up to secure the best "workers" money could buy. And sadly, there's quite a few people who would be just perfectly fine with that.

What a bunch of hyperbolic bullshit you spew.

This isn't history or com classes at the UW trade school in Madison. There are actual adults here that have been in and negotiated with unions.

Spoiler alert

The average American worker is NOT in a union. And they aren't being WORKED TO DEATH.

We HAVE child labor laws.

It doesn't MATTER what people will be fine with it.

A discussion should be able to have more than just strawmen and red herrings.

It seems like Seacrest's entire grasp on the American Labor Movement begins and ends with his dealings with some Dego business agent in Chicago, Illinois.

What?

Is the name Lissner even Italian?

Whatever. Really Smart business agent.

It really does seem that way.

Whatever. Really Smart business agent.