[mikelyons]

The incentive structure of unregulated capitalism is "Extract maximum value with minimum expense. As much as possible externalize the costs."

The things to extract value from: employees, environment, government policy, tax code, if I was smarter I'd think of a few others.

[mylons]

you have my name, and my views. I don't know how to feel about this. there's some solace in knowing Mike Lyons is an extraordinarily popular name though.

[mikelyons]

What's in a name?

[ChrisLomont]

"Extract maximum value with minimum expense. As much as possible externalize the costs" is also the incentive structure of workers.

[mitjak]

in the context of capitalism, sure.

[SideQuark]

In the context of humanity. People do this even in non-capitalist countries. Or do you think that when a country is not capitalist the people suddenly stop doing things to benefit themselves?

[mikelyons]

Worker's incentives seem more along the "do whatever those with resources say to trade your mind and body and time for survival"

[ChrisLomont]

Companies compete for workers. Don’t like your current situation, leave. Companies know this, so cannot simply do whatever they want.

Both sides have power, and the same incentives.

[mikelyons]

I would argue that this is a perspective of someone with power in the job market, and perhaps that perspective is limited to a small portion of workers' experiences.

I also find "don't like it, leave" to be a very unaware oversimplification of the situation many American workers are in.