A word of advice, from a young political centrist: You really, really should not have framed this argument around a burrito chain. People will insist on interpreting that badly. Yes, I know we can’t be held responsible to other people’s kneejerk reactions, but that doesn’t mean we can’t exercise caution. Young voters are a very reactive sort, and public education has, shamefully, taught us to be witch-hunters.
That said, I’m greatly encouraged to see an article that focuses on liberalizing (using the word classically, here) the American workforce. Don’t get me wrong, I disagree with a lot of it, but all the rationalizations are refreshingly consistent.
You have, however, hit on a problem with a total free-market: If I want to feed my family, it’s in my best interest to keep some other poor guy out of a job. Even if I’m less qualified, pursuing my own interests demands that I tip the scales in my favor any way I can. That’s more or less why labor unions got started, in addition to rotten working conditions. Cesar Chavez was no friend to scabs.
It’s all well and good to talk about “bitter pills to swallow”, but this does not console the unemployed. And yes, we actually do have to console them, because people have a habit of getting angry when they’re idle and impoverished. The Occupy crowd could have sought gainful employment apple-picking, but would they have been hired? What happens when they’re not? Which entitlements are we getting rid of? Social security was a scam from the get-go, but as for entitlements like unemployment, well, I think we need those. It is hard to look for a job when you’re starving to death.
Yes, I know very people in this country starve, but I would wager that that’s *because* of the entitlements. Every year we need less unskilled labor even as the qualifications for “unskilled” rise.
I’m in the middle of Gen Y, but my parents were baby-boomers. They’ve expressed dismay at the lack of employment for people my age, an artificial problem that has been created by unthinking regulation. So I do understand the points you’re making. But, ultimately, I doubt anyone will want to pursue the free-market ideal if they can’t buy their children textbooks.
