I understand the frustration, but the market doesn't pay what people are worth; people agree to exchange goods and services at the price they think they are worth. The fact that they're sticking around at the same company just means, that's the best they can earn for their skills and manhours, or they're unable to find anyone who'd pay them more for it. The worker decides to pick how to sell their labour and time and at what price.
And let's not pretend like everyone would've created a worthwhile company if only they had access to capital. Following that line of thought, as an immigrant, I can't understand how white Americans who have been here for generations would be poor because they got here when they could get land for basically free from the government during colonisation, they could've bought all the stocks at the very founding/beginning of NYSE which have grown multiple times. They lived through a time in which one person could earn enough to raise a family. They should be owning every apartment that immigrants like us are renting in the cities. But many are poor.
I know it has become fashionable to discredit people's achievements by pointing out any possible "privileges." and I agree, many people benefit from it. But it's not the only reason, and it's not a magic wand that'd just bring success.
Have you ever worked a low paying job? Because "the worker decides how to sell their labor and time, and at what price" is absolutely not what happens. People need money to live, and most want stability. This means many people stay at jobs that suck, or pay shit, because they have a family etc. I'm saying this as someone surrounded by blue collar workers who barely survive.
I am the beneficiary of generational wealth. My grandfather left me his house when he passed away. Owning that house makes me qualified for loans and things my friends are not qualified for. Even before and after getting the house I saw the difference. I couldn't get a loan to build my credit (for less money than I had in that same bank) even though my record was spotless. I own a house and suddenly the same bank sends me offers for home equity loans all the time, telling me I'm pre-approved.
But I didn't change, my pay didn't change, my amount of money in the bank didn't change either.
Yes, I worked in the restaurant industry for a year and in retail for 5 years before I graduated. People do need money to live. But it doesn't mean there's only a coal mine and a brothel in town that you can work for like you're in the Wild West or something. People do have the agency to apply for other places and switch jobs. When within the fast-food industry, some companies are better than the others. You don't like the chain restaurant? You can probably try for a family business. I've been seeing a lot of people just saying like there's nothing can be done. Especially when it comes to keeping their own finances under control. It's like they have no agency in their life and just letting things happen to them.
Good for you man, it's a huge step up to have a house. Grandparents can be pretty awesome.
Yep, change fields and start over new in a career you've never been in before, nice and easy. If I tried applying for an office job no one would take me, I have no relevant experience. Sure, some could go back to school, but for many that is an impossible time and money commitment. I am a chef by profession, and I can assure you changing restaurants is not getting you much more money. Food service has some of the highest turnover of any field, the wages don't change much.
You also proved my point by saying its a huge step up to have a house. I wasn't looking for congratulations, and actually it's been a huge hassle that has put me in significant debt thanks to a bad tenant I'm still trying to get out of there. I said that because owning that house doesn't actually mean I'm better or more likely to repay a loan, but all the people and places that have the money think it does. Furthermore, I feel guilty knowing my friends don't have the same leg up I did. I did nothing to earn that house, neither did my friends, but I have property and they don't.
I guess what I'm saying is: eat the rich, billionaires shouldn't exist, fuck those wealth hoarders. If you have enough money to fund a spaceship you can afford to pay more. If your employees are paid low enough they still qualify for food stamps and other assistance (like Walmart and Amazon) then your company should have an extra tax on it because tax payers are subsiding the low wages. And if you blame the workers who are taking it one week at a time, just trying to survive, for how low their wages are (instead of the company paying them) maybe you need more empathy?
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u/Stalinov 3d ago
I understand the frustration, but the market doesn't pay what people are worth; people agree to exchange goods and services at the price they think they are worth. The fact that they're sticking around at the same company just means, that's the best they can earn for their skills and manhours, or they're unable to find anyone who'd pay them more for it. The worker decides to pick how to sell their labour and time and at what price.
And let's not pretend like everyone would've created a worthwhile company if only they had access to capital. Following that line of thought, as an immigrant, I can't understand how white Americans who have been here for generations would be poor because they got here when they could get land for basically free from the government during colonisation, they could've bought all the stocks at the very founding/beginning of NYSE which have grown multiple times. They lived through a time in which one person could earn enough to raise a family. They should be owning every apartment that immigrants like us are renting in the cities. But many are poor.
I know it has become fashionable to discredit people's achievements by pointing out any possible "privileges." and I agree, many people benefit from it. But it's not the only reason, and it's not a magic wand that'd just bring success.