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Pastimes : The Justa & Lars Honors Bob Brinker Investment Club
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To: Lars who wrote (5821)6/13/1999 5:52:00 PM
From: Ian@SI  Read Replies (1) of 15132
 
Just a little OT.

Here comes the law of unintended consequences again. i.e. - where the unintended, negative results from Government action exceed any of the perceived or desired benefits by a very wide margin.

Clinton is ordering U.S. government agencies to ensure they buy no products made by indentured underage workers, signaling a stepped-up effort against child labor worldwide.


Whole story at: interactive.wsj.com

Don't get me wrong. I'm not for child labour. ... or for any company taking unfair advantage of any less powerful individual or group.

But in some parts of the world, there isn't adequate education. There aren't adequate alternatives. And boycotting, or legislating or otherwise interfering with the free market when it comes to child labour has resulted in them being subjected to much more horrible abuses than those which were originally observed.

Rather than forcing the child labour to go underground, or forcing these children to be forced into unspeakable and usually illegal acts; or being abandoned to fend for themselves or die, perhaps some form of educational aid program could be offered.

i.e. - If children are being forced to work for $1 a month or some other ridiculous compensation, couldn't it be possible to pay a similar amount to the families of children that successfully acquire skills that would be useful in that part of the world. ... and to help those countries build the appropriate educational infrastructure.

The above is a gut reaction rather than a well thought out program; and, as such is probably equally subject to abuse as any other program. But anything would be better than the interference being contemplated by the administration, IMO.

Ian.
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