07-01-2008, 04:44 AM
I agree completely with you, Rob. In no way should my comments be taken to mean that I'm suggesting pure charity, giving money away, or rewarding shiftlessness. There is a fair lot of that here, and I don't intend to comment on that.
I simply want to emphasize that I believe it to be morally reprehensible to exploit trapped or desperate people either by paying them too little or charging them too much. Both behaviors are "anti-social" and do not work towards a better community and a better world. As well, I want to point out, and others have commented and agreed, that a LOT of businesses make their money in exactly that way--that their profitably is contingent on exploiting people. The farm industry in general is a very good case of this sort of industry, much of the time. Recognizing this, those of us who want to work for a better future and world must recognize that our situation is akin to being in a boat with a dozen other people--we decide it would be better for all if we rowed to the north. Unfortunately, there's a couple of big guys in the back that want to row south for personal reasons, and a lot of other people are simply rowing aimlessly or doing what they're told. It's only by pulling like the devil in the direction we need to go that any progress will be made, and often positions that may seem at first glance to be a little extreme many be the only ones that actually effectually suffice.
I simply want to emphasize that I believe it to be morally reprehensible to exploit trapped or desperate people either by paying them too little or charging them too much. Both behaviors are "anti-social" and do not work towards a better community and a better world. As well, I want to point out, and others have commented and agreed, that a LOT of businesses make their money in exactly that way--that their profitably is contingent on exploiting people. The farm industry in general is a very good case of this sort of industry, much of the time. Recognizing this, those of us who want to work for a better future and world must recognize that our situation is akin to being in a boat with a dozen other people--we decide it would be better for all if we rowed to the north. Unfortunately, there's a couple of big guys in the back that want to row south for personal reasons, and a lot of other people are simply rowing aimlessly or doing what they're told. It's only by pulling like the devil in the direction we need to go that any progress will be made, and often positions that may seem at first glance to be a little extreme many be the only ones that actually effectually suffice.