March 9, 2006

DIRECTOR'S CORNER

By Tim Harris

Usually, when politicians ponder new ways to enrich the wealthy and powerful, the argument gets made that this is how jobs are created. In exchange for tax breaks, deregulation, and outright cash bribes, those who already have far too much agree to hire the rest of us so that they may be further enriched. And we are supposed to be grateful.

I remember the exact moment it dawned for me that capitalism isn’t fair. I was working in a hot, dirty auto parts warehouse, doing the essential labor that those in the air-conditioned office were happy to avoid. One night, sitting in my 12’ x 15’ unfurnished room with the bathroom in the hallway, trying to scrape together money for dinner, it hit me. Between rent, keeping my junk car on the road, cigarettes, and a little food, there was nothing left over. Nothing. I was a slave.

I don’t know if anyone that hasn’t had this experience can really understand what it’s like to work hard and have nothing to show, not even the respect that should be every working person’s due. Even now, I’m constantly amazed at how hard most poor people work, and how little they have to show for the effort.

So don’t talk to me about the need to reward investment. Let’s start by rewarding honest work. The rich can take care of themselves.