Originally Posted by
Pretty Boy
Why does it matter if someone is forced to do a job or not? Do we just accept exploitative working conditions in any industry because 'no one is forcing them to do it'? I've done a few crap jobs in my time, particularly when I was younger; crap pay, crap conditions and being treated like ***** on someone's shoe would have been a step up on the respect ladder. It wasn't always as simple as 'just get a better job'.
Surely as a society we are better than that? I blame politicians and commentators who have turned 'hard working families' into a meaningless buzz word. It often appears to be made in reference to people working ridiculous hours, across multiple jobs in some instances, to make enough money to barely get by. That's then painted as some noble endeavour rather than the disgrace it is. It's a sad legacy for an entire generation of people to leave, they'll happily lecture a 20 something telling them that having a mobile phone is why they are struggling to get by though.
Implementing a proper living wage would have a bottom up effect of giving everyone a bit more money to spend. It will never happen though because there's too many vested interests and people happy to lay the blame at the feet of those who are struggling rather than asking why that is the case.