From: David Musick (David_Musick@msn.com)
Date: Fri Oct 18 1996 - 16:38:37 MDT
Suresh Naidu wrote, "because the fundamental relationship is one of slavery:
worker-employer. There is a huge power imbalance there. And since there
always will be more workers than employers, the majority of people will
be screwed."
Why do you look at the worker / employer relationship as though one person is
above another? From my perspective, they are on equal ground. They are two
people simply making a trade. One person has their work to trade for money,
and the other person wants to trade money for work. I prefer to look at
people as though they are all self-employed, and the people they work for are
their clients. For example, if I am a skilled factory worker, I can sell my
services to various factory owners, who would then be my clients. I want
money, they want some work done; we both agree on the price, and we then
exchange our wares; I trade my work for the factory owner's money. I don't
see where any one is being "screwed" in this process.
One of the things I do to earn money is tutor students at the University of
Utah in math. When I'm tutoring someone, they are my employer, and I am the
worker. Would you say I am being "screwed" by them? Are they taking unfair
advantage of me? Is the fundamental relationship here one of slavery? Are
you saying I am their slave? I view them as my clients, and they view me as
someone who can help them do well in their math class. No one is being
"screwed".
- David Musick
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