Everyone except slaves (including prisoners and those forced under gunpoint to work) has, of course, the choice to work or not work. So in that respect, labor can't be stolen except from slave laborers.
Of course, you may not be able to feed yourself or your family if you don't work. But that doesn't make the employer a thief, nor the person who buys the product at a lower price a robber.
Certainly some wages are low and some working conditions are terrible. What is, though, also true is that people continue to willingly fill these jobs, sometimes even breaking laws to get the jobs. Working for 50 cents an hour is pretty good for a person living in a country where the annual GDP is $150.
And people in the US have the choice whether to clothes made overseas, knowing they may well have been made in sweatshops, or to pay substantially more for clothes made in the US by union workers. There are union labels people can easily find if they want to look for them. Not many families seem to find satisfaction in owning fewer union-made items than more sweatshop made items.
I assume that you are committed in your family to only buying goods made by people paid decent wages and working under decent working conditions. And to helping your friends and neighbors gain the same sensitivity and commitment. And in your job to only using tools, materials, and supplies made by people paid decent wages and working under decent working conditions.
At least you can take satisfaction in doing what you can to not act in ways you consider stealing from workers.
The eradication of poverty has been a dream of many in mankind for millenia. Hasn't happened yet. Doubt it ever will, but it's good that some people are trying. |
