[BucketSort]

We were warned not to feed man to the machine, yet that's exactly what we did. I guess everyone that died fighting for this country did so to create a bunch of billionaires and slaves to serve them. Our nation was paid for by the blood of its people, but somehow this debt is always forgotten. The people, by the right of sacrifice, deserve better than this.

[krapp]

>The people, by the right of sacrifice, deserve better than this.

The people want their Echo Dots tomorrow, and they don't give a shit what it takes to make that happen. They want them yesterday.

And if you ask the people, many will state that Amazon's warehouse employees should be grateful for any work they get, and that they're always free to quit and find other work if they choose.

And most of the rest will just shrug their shoulders and say it's regretful but not actually do anything about it.

[BucketSort]

Do you have data to support your claims?

[krapp]

I wasn't making a claim that requires proof, but the attitude described can be found in many of the Amazon threads on this site, at least when wages are discussed.

Also, if Americans were unsatisfied with the way Amazon's employees are treated, the market would respond appropriately, and Amazon would be forced to change its practices to remain productive. As it is, the market doesn't appear to value the welfare of Amazon's employees over its current business practices.

[BucketSort]

Amazon's stock has fluctuated with political focus on the company. It dropped for a whole month this year I believe -- I don't have the figures on hand. You are right that many Americans have a greedy consumer mindset, but also many Americans don't feel like they have a choice. With 70% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, that doesn't leave room for wallet activism. While what you are saying is principled, I think the full circumstances of the economy and consumer conditions prevent them from expressing their sentiment in the market as you suggest.

[kortilla]

By the right of sacrifice? Is this a veterans-only warehouse or something?

The US created a bunch of billionaires, but it also created the richest middle class. Let’s cut back the drama a bit and maybe discuss a law to improve safety?

[BucketSort]

Drama? What about the epidemic suicides and drug overdoses happening in this country? What about the absolute destruction of rural communities by monopolies emboldened by the lack of antitrust enforcement? The people of this country are being abused in so many ways and nothing is being done for them. Laws aren't going to help this situation, it's our stinking attitude that's the problem. It's our complete disregard for human life that's the problem.

[HashHishBang]

I may be off base here but this sounds an awful lot like perfect being the enemy of the good. Or, framed another way, idealism being the enemy of the pragmatic.

Waxing poetic about everyday tragedy is all well and good as a rhetorical device. However, it doesn't really do anything except to sow the seeds of division now does it? Especially when you cap the whole bit with the idea that it is thought that is wrong and not action.

And your proposed solution to this is effectively a paradigm shift in the perception of human value?

[BucketSort]

I'm sure you're the type of person that thinks poems are written to solve some sort of problem. Not all human communication is about expressing some solution to a problem. We can communicate sentiment and points of view as well.

[balt_s]

Hey man, at least we aren't speaking German!

[jacobush]

No, it's a sombre note that the state conscripted men and sent them to their deaths. To defend a free country. Which was especially free to the rich, it turns out.