Every rung is essential to the stability
of the economic ladder

Published 1/19/09

After quitting a somewhat lucrative and “safe” career in 1996 I had the opportunity to “see how the other half lived.”

I worked for some time in a place that my present co-workers (I’m back in the “professional” world) have called a “sweatshop.”

It occurred to me years later that many of the young men who worked with me during the day worked a second job at night in order to support families.

Up to that point, my attitude toward such people was that they had only themselves to blame.  “Everyone is where he is because of the choices he made,” and “If they don’t like their situation, they can get an education and move up.”

What I finally realized is that EVERY economy is supported by countless tasks that pay little and involve hardship.  Nevertheless, we need SOMEONE to perform these tasks, otherwise we may not have the jobs we do or the things we need.

Due to the mechanisms of the free market, in which I believe, the pay for these jobs is low.  But can we realistically expect these people to be happy enduring miserable working conditions and low pay, only to just barely get by, with nothing but a lifetime of such work to look forward to, while we enjoy high pay and relative luxury that wouldn’t exist without their efforts?

All civilizations require teamwork.  Even the lowliest of our members have something to contribute, even if it’s only as an example of the risks of irresponsible behavior.  People need to believe that their hard work and sacrifice is recognized as being an important part of the entire process.

When we forget that fact, we end up with a society that is rife with bitterness, cynicism, and resentment.

And, from my perspective in the “other half,” spiritually empty.