Mikitivity
12-09-2004, 20:38
There are a few Free Trade proposals being discussed, but there is something I have an issue with. It is the misuse of the term "pro-business".
We have "economic freedoms", "civil freedoms", and "political freedoms". Any capitalizt nation will be able to explain that an economic freedom isn't a political or civil right ... it is a description of the (lack) of laws restricting businesses.
Example: 40-Hour Work Week
A law enacted to give workers a 40 hour work week is not pro-business. It is a civil right, as it focuses on giving a right to individuals, but placing a law (restriction) on businesses.
Example: Office Smoking Breaks
As most of us know, people who smoke are addicted. They physically and mentally need to smoke. Some countries have responded by creating domestic laws forcing businesses to allow these employees to take smoking breaks.
Why? The reason is simple, by allowing a smoker to take a break (a civil right), their efficiency is believed to increase. (This may or may not be true ... but that is one common assumption).
An international law in the UN requiring businesses to allow smoking breaks may or may not increase the economy. But it is a domestic law and it restricts economic freedoms. It is not "Free Trade", and it is not "Pro-Business".
Example: Overtime
Requiring overtime pay to be at time and a half might make for happy workers and increase the work force, but it is a law placed on businesses. It is a civil right (human right or social justice) for workers, but a loss of economic freedom for corporations. It is anti-business, not pro-business.
FACT
Pro-Economy != Pro-Business
Please be very careful when reading posts from other nations mistaking a civil rights issue as a pro-business law. If the law restricts businesses (who can make up their own minds), it is not a pro-business law.
We have "economic freedoms", "civil freedoms", and "political freedoms". Any capitalizt nation will be able to explain that an economic freedom isn't a political or civil right ... it is a description of the (lack) of laws restricting businesses.
Example: 40-Hour Work Week
A law enacted to give workers a 40 hour work week is not pro-business. It is a civil right, as it focuses on giving a right to individuals, but placing a law (restriction) on businesses.
Example: Office Smoking Breaks
As most of us know, people who smoke are addicted. They physically and mentally need to smoke. Some countries have responded by creating domestic laws forcing businesses to allow these employees to take smoking breaks.
Why? The reason is simple, by allowing a smoker to take a break (a civil right), their efficiency is believed to increase. (This may or may not be true ... but that is one common assumption).
An international law in the UN requiring businesses to allow smoking breaks may or may not increase the economy. But it is a domestic law and it restricts economic freedoms. It is not "Free Trade", and it is not "Pro-Business".
Example: Overtime
Requiring overtime pay to be at time and a half might make for happy workers and increase the work force, but it is a law placed on businesses. It is a civil right (human right or social justice) for workers, but a loss of economic freedom for corporations. It is anti-business, not pro-business.
FACT
Pro-Economy != Pro-Business
Please be very careful when reading posts from other nations mistaking a civil rights issue as a pro-business law. If the law restricts businesses (who can make up their own minds), it is not a pro-business law.