Dear Rog (and David B.),
I seem to have missed your earlier discussion in this thread.
Your arguments, Roger, against 'compensation and a living wage' probably run
parallel to those against a 'right to dignity'.
You wrote 24/3 8:41 -0500:
'I simply suspect that it leads to spiraling demands for dignity. My
suggestion is that if you believe it so much that you try it somewhere. The
proof is then in the results.'
May I inform you that in the Netherlands we have a minimum wage level of
about $1.000 per month for 40 hours a weeks work and social security
benefits for those who cannot work of about 70% of that AND that our system
is doing quite well? According to the UNDP Human Development Index (see
www.undp.org/hdr2001/indicator/indic_17_1_1.html ), which combines life
expectancy, knowledge and standard of living, the USA is ranking 6th and the
Netherlands 8th. Above the USA are countries like Norway (1st), Sweden (4th)
and Belgium (5th) that have comparable social security systems as the
Netherlands. Differences at the top are small: the difference between the
USA and the Netherlands is 7 or 8 times smaller than that between either of
them and Italy, which ranks 20th.
Is this enough proof that your fear 'to lower quality or destroy the economy
in blind pursuit of an ideal' is rather irrational?
With friendly greetings,
Wim
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