Philosophy Now Forum

Good idea or receipe for disaster?

Given how much of the US-Mexico border would then be controlled exclusively by Texas, I think Chaz's insouciance might not be shared in Washington.

Why not? Washington would be able to defer all responsibility to Texasland, who would get all the problems without the benefit of the Federal authority.
I would imagine Texas would soon encourage millions of low paid workers from Mexico to work a growing range of seat shops, having repealed all safety and minimum wage legislation.

The exchange of legal and industrial practices betwen the Mex and Tex sides of their 'border' would be interesting. Of course capitalists will try to see advantage in any new situation, but just possibly the workers might see potential in it too!
In any case, I don't see the remaining States welcoming the idea that their biggest partner is now a low-wage competitor!

Anybody who supports minimum-wage legislation is an economic fool, to put it nicely, or a stupid son-of-a-bitch, to put it not so nicely.

Depends on what sort of society you want to live in.

I want to live in a free-market society where the government doesn't stand between the buyer and seller to give an improper advantage to one or the other.

I want to live in a free-market society where the government doesn't stand between the buyer and seller to give an improper advantage to one or the other.

You said previously that you didn't believe in legally enforceable contracts so it appears you want to live in a world where bargaining power is everything and as bargaining power is rarely equal someone usually has an advantage over someone else. Of course, it all depends on your definition of "improper" but I think a little imagination and sense of justice can allow most of us to imagine enough cases where an advantage may be abused.

Then you want to live in a world where one person ends up owning everything, and has everyone else do his bidding. We had that type of society already.
It was swept away because of democratisation which re-balanced the economies of the Western World to inject demand at the bottom end. The fact is that the minimum wage is very healthy for the economy as it feeds demand. What is the point in all that production when wages are too low for people to make demand for all those goods? If you had more imagination and a primer in economic theory you would know that straight away.
Instead you have swallowed the propaganda from the Rich Right 1%, who demand that, whilst privately urging protectionism for their own industries. You are typical of the average pig ignorant American - shame on you!

You said previously that you didn't believe in legally enforceable contracts so it appears you want to live in a world where bargaining power is everything and as bargaining power is rarely equal someone usually has an advantage over someone else. Of course, it all depends on your definition of "improper" but I think a little imagination and sense of justice can allow most of us to imagine enough cases where an advantage may be abused.

I want to live in a free-market society where the government doesn't stand between the buyer and seller to give an improper advantage to one or the other.