World Bank recommends that countries eliminate minimum wage, dismantle wrongful dismissal rules and contractual protections for workers

Well we know better than to expect a correction

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The one thing that is worse than godless Communism is Godless Capitalism.

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You could argue about the involvement/existence of God, but the USA is currently on track for theocratic fascism. Regrettably, economic exploitation is not the only problem.

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I consider that opinion from World Bank to be quite useful. Clearly this is an organization that needs to be watched, investigated, attacked, and dismantled by any and all legal, peaceful means. Thank you for clearly labeling yourself as a public enemy, World Bank.

If I may, a thirty year old tune from Bruce Cockburn. Specifically about the IMF, but close enough I think

read the actual report, the largest disservice done today is by boing boing, and frankly I am disappointed

http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/816281518818814423/2019-WDR-Draft-Report.pdf

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:musical_note: The body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops
Nearby, somebody got shot
But parties don’t stop and the parties don’t care
It’s a stick-up, it’s why we got our hands in the air

Still demanding a share, refrigerators bare
'Cause they wanna see trade get free and not fair
But we are not blind, we are not there
We don’t got time left to spare to not care

On the last day of November, swellin’ in ranks
Went to chant down the mighty IMF and World Bank
A gathering of people in peaceful assembly
Onward to Westlake to disrupt the entry

Walk along steady, riot squad ready
To protect every last dignitary’s ass
But this started when they herded us like cattle in a fence
Protesters gettin’ restless without an exit

They threatened to arrest us, we pushed back and then
A hail of rubber bullets hit teens and old men
I admit, had to split when the first gas canisters hit
Felt it burn in my eyes, nose, and lips

They tried to blame it on the anarchists, garbage
I was there, I’ll tell you right now the pigs started it
But they distort it in the news
Talkin’ bout stompin’ down Niketown wearing their shoes

But the body rock stopped, probably got caught by the cops
Nearby, somebody got shot
But the parties don’t stop and the parties don’t care
It’s a stick-up, it’s why we got our hands in the air

50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets
50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets
50,000 deep, and it sound like thunder when our feet pound streets
50,000 deep, 50,000 deep :musical_note:

We don’t buy slaves anymore, we just rent them.

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I dunno, I think we’re pretty well on-track to be the mirror universe. Downside: lots of shitty conditions for almost everyone in the galaxy. Upside: Nana Visitor in tight leather jumpsuits, I guess?

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Would that I had more than one like to give you. That was really well said.

Oh, really? Iceland says Bjork you and defaults on debt.

Haiti wasn’t really about the dept. Invading Haiti was about putting down the only independent democracy in the western hemisphere. A democracy formed by slaves that freed themselves.

PS.

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in the meantime tho, before the system adapts, you have people being able to eat and keep a roof over their heads.

there is no “ultimate” solution to create a humane capitalism. there is only maintenance while we collectively figure out how to invent something better.

if a generation of people in the us have a good life because minimum wage gets matched to the cost of living for a time. say 15 dollars an hour in urban areas. then win as far as im concerned.

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It was a bit of both. The Haitians were already fairly well held down by the 1825 “debt” to France. The USMC raided the island half a year before the full invasion and lifted $500,000 from the bank.

Haiti was by no means the only country invaded by the US for economic reasons. Banana Wars etc.

image

Yup.

Worth watching, very well done.

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Indeed dot com

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The next step will be when the most valuable thing people own is the right to vote and that too will be up for sale. Why not? It’s a free market, so why shouldn’t it be legal to sell your vote?

This also has interesting synergy with AI. As they get more advanced they may soon be able to take over and run companies. If they can also buy votes, they can take over the world legally with no need for pesky nuclear wars.

And here I thought economists like it when consumers (that is workers and normal folks) are able to consume stuff. Don’t they always keep panicking when spending drops? Shouldn’t they consider this when they recommend wage levels for workers?

Or are all economists actually just blinded by orthodoxy and ideology?

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Only if the endgame was disposable workers in the first place. Don’t take the Randian lies at face value. The most sustainably successful businesses over decades (vs fiscal quarters)treat their employees well.

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I hear what you’re saying, I’m just not convinced that a generation will have a good life as a result of a minimum wage change. It seems more likely to me that there will be an immediate rent-hike across all low-income housing, and a lot of people who used to receive benefits like Supplemental Nutritional Assistance will suddenly become ineligible.

None of this is an argument against raising the minimum wage, nor against having one generally. I just worry that it’s not even as good as kicking the can down the road. Not sure what would be better, though.

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Aren’t there studies into the results of changes in the minimum wage that one might consult to see if it’s worth doing?