Jon Searles

Megamillions Lottery, NAFTA, Bagels, and the Lazy American Worker (part 2)



Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2008

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Last May I submitted an article on "Minimum Wage and the Lazy American Worker" and although it was not my most read offering it was the one that received the most passionate and angry responses. One reader even mentioned a shotgun, but I was not entirely sure what he was implying. Like any worthwhile topic of debate and discussion the American Worker is very complex and varied. It would definitely require volumes of information and researchers brighter than this author to completely characterize the past and future of this vast group of individuals, which I assume includes most of those that may stumble across and read this article. However, I will again give you one man's opinion on the condition of the American Worker and the American Employer.

In a book called Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, the authors tell a story of a bagel salesman who set up a business based on selling bagels for $1 on the honor system. He would place boxes and bagels at his client's offices and kept detailed reports as to the success of his venture at each location. After years of data were collected he was able to determine, with close accuracy, how honest the bagel eaters were based on holiday schedules, weather, and attitude of office personnel. In all, he determined that on average about 87% of those who took a bagel paid for it. That would mean that 13 out of every 100 workers were dishonest. Now, that may sound a little simplified to you, but I want you to honestly ask yourself if you think 13 is too high a number or too low a number based on people you have met in your life. Personally, I think it may be a little low, but I can accept that 13% of individuals are dishonest. Now, just because someone would steal a bagel does not mean they would commit a felony, but it does suggest that people are not as honest as they would have you believe.

I feel that scratch offs and state lotteries throughout the country, as well as the growing gambling industry, are studies in the attitudes and motivations of American Workers. We are all hoping for a payday in which little or no work is involved. Unfortunately, workers within companies are also looking for the something for nothing payday within their work environments. Worker's compensation fraud, frivolous lawsuits, and "whistleblower" mentalities are all weapon's that lazy workers can use against their employers. Now, some of you just had the back of your necks redden because you quickly assumed I meant ALL workers compensation claims, lawsuits, and "whistleblower" cases were dishonest. That was wrong, but keep in mind employers must pay for insurance premiums, legal representation, and loss of reputation whether or not the issues involved are true or false. Contrary to the opinion of many, there are companies out there that are owned and managed by decent, honest individuals. I would hope that the same 13% dishonest bagel eaters were not making up the board rooms of large corporations, but in the bagel study cited in Freakonomics, the percentage in the upper echelon of bagel eaters involved a slightly higher percentage of dishonesty. Many are dishonest, but that is fodder for another article on "Creed and the Dishonest American Employer." Unfortunately, the honest employers and employees become victims of the dishonest employers' and employees' reputations, the court system, and the unscrupulous employee looking for a payday. Employers assume all employees are out to sully the reputation of the business and employees assume all employers are run by creedy corporate dictators.

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) which was started by the first Bush and signed into law during the Clinton Administration made matters worse. It made it much more difficult for companies to make money within the boundaries of the United States . While it focused more on the North American continent it was the precursor to opening trade with countries that make inferior products, use low wage (almost slave) labor, and are not subject to the regulatory costs found in the United States . In other words, a country can make a plastic toy with lead paint applied by a child making 40 cents a day and discharge waste into the local river. NAFTA and agreements like it pushed some employers who may have had borderline integrity to step over completely the line. It definitely caused many U.S. companies to leave our borders. This was very evident in a tee shirt mega complex I visited in Honduras where men, women, and children come together everyday to put together undergarments (primarily t-shirts) for the American worker.

So to avoid rambling about the subject matter that is obviously much more intricate than I can convey in written word I ask if it is a good idea to begin rolling back the agreements that have brought out the worst in American Employer and the American Worker and level the playing field. We could require that each country allowed to send products into the U.S must have comparable wage structure, environmental regulations, and worker rules and protections. Please understand that there will be some things you may not like. Prices WILL rise (especially t-shirts), companies currently enjoying high profits WILL lose money, offerings at your local Walmart WILL decrease drastically, products you count on everyday WILL disappear from the American market, poor people in our country WILL see their buying power diminish, and people WILL call our country isolationist, protectionist, and a detriment to the global economy. Another crucial issue will be underwear. Have you ever tried to buy underwear made in the United States ? Hopefully, scratch off games and state lotteries will become under funded and cease to exist. The American worker's attitude will strengthen as well as initiative and pride. American businesses will embrace the work ethic of their work force. American workers and businesses will have mutual respect and concern for each other and work together for success and profitability. Well, I can dream big can't I?

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