I see sweat equity as equal in value to investment equity -- both want the company to succeed, workers so they get (and keep) a job with a growing return on their investment just as investors want a return on their equity.
There are many employee owned companies, there are many co-ops, and both show an alternative to the 'mini-kingdom' corporation model.
More importantly, there are labor unions. The busting of unions by conservative movements is, in my opinion, the main reason why we see a widening gap between worker and business owner. Labor unions were born out of a period where there were predatory labor practices, such as paying employees in company money. It could be argued that labor unions did grow too powerful, but the backlash has tipped the balance too far to the side of corporations in my estimation.
We also need trade protections for labor. I only know enough about economics to be dangerous, but trade laws are a really interesting topic to me. It makes sense to charge massive tariffs on imported goods from China so that we stop losing jobs to manufacturing in China. At the same time, how would we react to more expensive goods?
Social justice also plays a part in this whole discussion. We can all acknowledge the basic feelings of jealousy between haves and have nots, but that is not what I am talking about. Rather, our democracy is now run by money. The more money you have, the more influence you have over what laws are passed. That is a problem. As the wealth gap increases, more and more political power will be concentrated into fewer and fewer hands and away from the populace.
Edited by Taq, : No reason given.
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