Child labor was common in urban, industrial America for most of the country’s history. It’s now making a disturbing comeback: lawmakers across the US are undertaking concerted efforts to weaken or repeal statutes that prohibit employing children.

  • ArtZuron@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    36
    ·
    1 year ago

    It’s even for the same reason too. Children are easy to manipulate, and easier to exploit. They can be paid less, for longer time, and with less shits given for their wellbeing. Because, by nature, child labor is exploitative and inefficient.

    Nowadays, it’s being used as a bludgeon to prevent wages from increasing naturally, and even to reduce it artificially.

    • MechKit@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      In a lot of ways we are closer to 80’s cyberpunk, just with less neon and cool clothes. So maybe neon covered, flying street cars?

  • prole@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    24
    ·
    1 year ago

    So I guess humans are doomed to repeat the same stupid mistakes over and over until the planet literally burns to a crisp. Very cool.

  • Corvus Nyx@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    We need to move beyond capitalism. What a miserable existence inflicted upon us who see no other way to live than by stepping on others - enough so they diminish the lives of children to be nothing more than tools. Honestly, every lawmaker who’s pushing for this deserves a good, strong punch to the mouth and then some. This constant push to hoard wealth and damn the consequences is killing us all.

  • 0nyxee@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    This is so sad. Kids should have the chance to be kids, not thrown into working early and taken advantage of.