Name: Anonymous 2011-12-09 19:45
Here are a couple of arguments against government regulation that I've seen thrown around the internet and from people I personally know such as coworkers and why I think they're wrong. I'm curious about /newpol/'s position on this.
1. If agencies like the EPA and FDA were disbanded companies would not do things like destroy the environment and sell toxic substances as food and hygiene products because if they did, consumers would be outraged and not buy their products.
My response: Every time a large company decided to cut corners then much damage could potentially be done to the environment and many people harmed before their actions were recognized and anything done about it. Its better for these things to be monitored so that at least some of this stuff gets stopped before it has a chance to harm lots of people. Americans still buy Chinese products even though Chinese companies do things that they should not.
2. If there were no minimum wage then businesses would still pay a decent living wage because they want to attract the best workers and because it is in the best interests for businesses to maintain a large pool of people that can afford to buy the products and services they provide.
My response: Businesses do not seriously compete for talent for many if not most jobs. They do for specialized jobs that require lots of education, training, or experience but not for factory workers, store clerks, and lawncare or farm workers. Without a minimum wage huge numbers of workers would not be paid reasonably because they are not considered skilled. This was demonstrated back when there were no unions and factory workes worked in dangerous conditions hardly being paid enough to live. Even though they are unskilled they still should be paid a living wage because they do important jobs. Many businesses hire illegal workers or send their production overseas for cheaper labour and do not pay their employees enough to buy the products that they are making. They are made to be bought by other people that make more money. Nothing is wrong with making high quality products that factory workers cannot afford to buy, but this does show that businesses will rely on other sectors do generate demand for their products and will not necessarily keep their own wages reasonably high just to increase their employees' purchasing power.
Statements 1 and 2 are not strawmen, I've heard both these positions taken by multiple people. So what are /newpol/'s thoughts?
1. If agencies like the EPA and FDA were disbanded companies would not do things like destroy the environment and sell toxic substances as food and hygiene products because if they did, consumers would be outraged and not buy their products.
My response: Every time a large company decided to cut corners then much damage could potentially be done to the environment and many people harmed before their actions were recognized and anything done about it. Its better for these things to be monitored so that at least some of this stuff gets stopped before it has a chance to harm lots of people. Americans still buy Chinese products even though Chinese companies do things that they should not.
2. If there were no minimum wage then businesses would still pay a decent living wage because they want to attract the best workers and because it is in the best interests for businesses to maintain a large pool of people that can afford to buy the products and services they provide.
My response: Businesses do not seriously compete for talent for many if not most jobs. They do for specialized jobs that require lots of education, training, or experience but not for factory workers, store clerks, and lawncare or farm workers. Without a minimum wage huge numbers of workers would not be paid reasonably because they are not considered skilled. This was demonstrated back when there were no unions and factory workes worked in dangerous conditions hardly being paid enough to live. Even though they are unskilled they still should be paid a living wage because they do important jobs. Many businesses hire illegal workers or send their production overseas for cheaper labour and do not pay their employees enough to buy the products that they are making. They are made to be bought by other people that make more money. Nothing is wrong with making high quality products that factory workers cannot afford to buy, but this does show that businesses will rely on other sectors do generate demand for their products and will not necessarily keep their own wages reasonably high just to increase their employees' purchasing power.
Statements 1 and 2 are not strawmen, I've heard both these positions taken by multiple people. So what are /newpol/'s thoughts?