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Labor: Difference between revisions
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<big> | Thus,<br /> | ||
: | <big>if we want a world where people '''work less'''</big> | ||
: {{minor|(where people have more time for friends & family etc.),}} | |||
<big>we have to be honest about what goods & services the world should '''produce less''' of.</big> | <big>we have to be honest about what goods & services the world should '''produce less''' of.</big> | ||
: | : {{minor|It's a tradeoff, but a '''worthwhile''' one.}} | ||
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To some extent, we can reduce production/labor while barely sacrificing quality of life at all. | To some extent, we can reduce production/labor while barely sacrificing quality of life at all. | ||
''' | That's what is meant by ''easy''. But it means fighting ''hard'' against the following things: | ||
* [[Waste]]d goods {{x|whether from businesses or from individuals - waste is effectively the gap between production and consumption}} | |||
* [[Planned obsolescence]] | * [[Planned obsolescence]] | ||
* [[Car dependency]] | * [[Car dependency]] {{x|Although it would probably need more labor in the ''short term'' (to make neighborhoods [[walkable]]), it would reduce the overall labor in the ''long term'', by reducing total vehicle production and fuel consumption. Then again, if the walkability was done to expand the service-based economy, then overall labor wouldn't be reduced at all.}} | ||
* [[Zero-sum jobs]] | * [[Zero-sum jobs]] | ||
* [[ | * Extreme [[inequality of consumption]] {{x|specifically, the extravagant lifestyles of the richest people, which depend heavily on the labor of "lower classes"}} | ||
===Harder sells=== | ===Harder sells=== | ||
If the "easy targets" aren't enough on their own, we can go further{{x|to reduce stress both on workers and on the planet}}if we're willing to change our lifestyles a bit. | If the "easy targets" aren't enough on their own, we can go further{{x|to reduce stress both on workers and on the planet}}if we're willing to change our lifestyles a bit. | ||
{{minor|Note: This applies mostly to the middle classes of developed countries. Don't go around telling poor people to consume less!}} | |||
'''Services:''' Some countries have a ''service-based economy''. A shorter work week would mean that people eat less often at restaurants, cafes, fast food etc. {{x|Some argue that cooking at home is also a form of labor. So are there ways to reduce the ''total'' labor involved in food? Yes: Processed food{{x|still needs factory labor, but less overall labor ''per unit''}}. The main problem is its lack of nutrition. I'll probably make another wiki page for solutions to this.}} {{x|Under ideal anarchism, restaurants & bars & nightclubs would be run ''communally'', like a house party or dinner party. No one would have to ''work'' as "staff" per se - it would just be self-serve and anyone could volunteer in the kitchen at any time. This system is fairly viable, as seen in some churches & temples.}} | '''Services:''' Some countries have a ''service-based economy''. A shorter work week would mean that people eat less often at restaurants, cafes, fast food etc. {{x|Some argue that cooking at home is also a form of labor. So are there ways to reduce the ''total'' labor involved in food? Yes: Processed food{{x|still needs factory labor, but less overall labor ''per unit''}}. The main problem is its lack of nutrition. I'll probably make another wiki page for solutions to this.}} {{x|Under ideal anarchism, restaurants & bars & nightclubs would be run ''communally'', like a house party or dinner party. No one would have to ''work'' as "staff" per se - it would just be self-serve and anyone could volunteer in the kitchen at any time. This system is fairly viable, as seen in some churches & temples.}} | ||
'''Goods:''' Consumer goods depend heavily on factory labor. We can still have nice things, we just wouldn't replace them as often. Reduce; re-use; see also: [[frugalism]]. {{x|Note: This isn't to tell poor people to consume less, but rather to tell middle-class & richer people to consume less.}} | '''Goods:''' Consumer goods depend heavily on factory labor. We can still have nice things, we just wouldn't replace them as often. Reduce; re-use; see also: [[frugalism]].<!--{{x|Note: This isn't to tell poor people to consume less, but rather to tell middle-class & richer people to consume less.}}--> | ||
In some socialist systems, [[food]] would be completely free, which means that cashiers may not be needed in grocery stores. Other kinds of labor might be needed though.{{qn}} Farmers are always needed in any case, but keep in mind that farming is less than 2% of jobs in highly-industrialized developed countries. {{x|Then again, if we listen to those who advocate for less mechanized farming, then we could expect the amount of agricultural labor to increase. In developed countries, currently most people don't learn farming in school. This would have to change. Teaching kids to grow plants is probably a good thing regardless.}} | In some socialist systems, [[food]] would be completely free, which means that cashiers may not be needed in grocery stores. Other kinds of labor might be needed though.{{qn}} Farmers are always needed in any case, but keep in mind that farming is less than 2% of jobs in highly-industrialized developed countries. {{x|Then again, if we listen to those who advocate for less mechanized farming, then we could expect the amount of agricultural labor to increase. In developed countries, currently most people don't learn farming in school. This would have to change. Teaching kids to grow plants is probably a good thing regardless.}} | ||