this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2023
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
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Many concede as inevitable that work should be miserable.
Yet, some even still cast shame on those who emphasize the misery it causes.
Meanwhile, among those who describe work as miserable, it is common to assume the reason as being that work involves effort, rather than that work, at least the way it is generally imposed, requires the worker being subordinated.
There are some jobs that suck, but they're essential. Like maintaining sewers in big cities. It's a miserable job, but if no one does it you're going to have huge problems really fast.
Supply and demand. There's a high demand for workers of all sorts, but no employers want to pay the high price for having a worker on staff.
It's not that no one wants to work anymore, it's that no employers want to pay people enough to live and people don't want to be forced to work 90% of their week to still not make enough money to live.
Business owners that don't understand that are entitled and stupid.
Why do you describe certain jobs, such as the ones you chose to mention, as being inherently miserable?
The motive for my observation was to provoke reflection over the essential factors determining how we experience work.
Everybody loves cleaning up other people's poop. In a communist society there would be people queuing around the block to volunteer for that job instead of being an artist or a rock star. Everybody will just do things for fun and be shiny happy people.
Unfortunately, you seem too angry and confused to participate in a meaningful conversation.
You're trying to argue there isn't anything inherently nasty about cleaning up literal human shit clogs. What is even the point in engaging with you in good faith? I'd rather take the piss out of your frankly ridiculous position.
As I say, you seem quite embittered.
You are also attacking a straw man.
Perhaps take a day or so to unwind, and then try reading my question again (including the entirety of the comment).
Don't patronise me.
What particularly is your grievance?
You provided two different names, each representing collections of ideas and objectives that are extremely general and often nebulous or ambiguous, and you complained that someone is pursuing one to the detriment of the other.
No more is plain from the text you wrote.
I am asking you to offer further details over how you personally are understanding the particular terms, and perceiving the conflicts.