Reply #20: depends on the context

[hfojvt]

what issues are you discussing that caused her to say that? What is she trying to prove? That she doesn't need unions or minimum wage laws?

But without unions or regulations, then what is to prevent employers from paying as little as possible and working you as hard as possible? Why not pay $1 a day for a twelve hour day, six days a week? That's the way factory work was until workers organized and fought for shorter weeks and higher pay and safety regulations.

When it comes to jobs, for most people, the choices are work, steal, or starve, and the job seeker has to take what they can get. Usually the lesser of evils rather than something they really want to do. I have two university degrees myself, and have worked the last seven years as a part-time janitor. Not because I am thrilled by the high status work of cleaning toilets, carrying tables, stacking chairs and mopping floors, but because I have been unable to find a better job. "Choices are what people must live with" but often people only have the choice between a rock and a hard place.

But if those people stand together, they can create better choices for themselves, with unions and with democracy via legislation that gives us rights like time and a half for every hour over 40 in a week.