Bread and Water

The worldwide economic crisis is being taken advantage of by capital to dismantle the labor-law protections that have been so hard earned by workers. Governments everywhere are buying the thesis that workers have too many unfair advantages that make the private sector less competitive. So, the ready-made solution is to go back to the days when workers were at the mercy of their boss, with very few rights, if any.

Now, this isn't happening in just so-called third-world countries, but in the U.S., the model for the rest of humanity in everything. The latest assault has been launched against labor laws that protect minors. The thrust of this capitalist offensive is that they should be allowed to work more hours, later in the day and for less than the prevailing minimum wage. After all, earning something is better than earning nothing, isn't it?

These things are contagious. Pretty soon, we'll see these changes all over the place. After all, if the Americans are doing it, it must be right. Right?

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