Cheap, Plentiful Labor

Again, I apologize for not posting in a while. See my Facebook page for an explanation.

Sometimes when I'm running early in the morning I listen to "The Big Show" on the radio. "The Big Show" is a redneck-leaning, humorous, classic rock* format, originating in Charlotte, North Carolina. Each day the show features commentary by their curmudgeon-in-residence, Robert D. Raiford. I just caught the last half of Raiford's rant today. He talked about cheap, plentiful labor, and how dominant economic powers have sought this all throughout history. Raiford noticed that this effort always seems to sew the seeds of its own destruction. As a case in point, he noted the Old South in our country's history. The southern, hierarchical social structure and economy needed a cheap, plentiful labor force to make sure that cotton stayed king. Slaves provided that. The system worked to keep the labor force uneducated, docile, and prolific in procreation. External and internal forces, though, created the collapse of this system.

I've thought about this all morning. What Raiford observed is true. No dominant power dependent on a controlled, contained, plentiful labor force lasts. History proves it time after time: Egypt and Hebrew slaves, the Roman empire and conquered populations, the era of British colonialism, the French Revolution, the Third Reich, the Soviet Union, etc. China has become an economic power, largely built on a massive internal cheap labor force. How long will that last? How long will the United States reap the benefits of wearing clothing that is produced by virtual wage slaves in places in the world where labor laws don't apply? Sooner or later, such systems will collapse. Raiford reminded me that history teaches this.

Why does this happen? I'm sure many people see political, economic, and social reasons. I believe there's a bigger dynamic in play. Human beings, all human beings are created in the image of God. Every person drawing breath is worth the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God in human form. To treat any human being as any less than this is to defy the very Creator of the universe. How long would we think any such defiance would be allowed to last?

Just something about which to think. Some this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday I want to share a post giving my thoughts about the growing hysteria over the spread of Islam. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

*classic rock - A Baby-boomer euphemism for "oldies."