Why We Look down on Low Wage Earners
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- Опубликовано: 20 дек 2015
- Earning little money is a sure route to being neglected and patronised in modern societies. But why is this, and what can we realistically do to counteract the psychological humiliation this causes?
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“I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO” - Tom Hardy
Janitors are contract staff now.
Martin, I was raised the same way. I try to treat everyone the same way, with respect being my lead tool.
Yup, I think it all comes down to how people were raised. People who look down on low wage workers obviously weren't raised right, and learned that attitude from their parents.
@@CherryFrog321 💯%✔
I don't look down on them.
I'm one of them.
He looks like them
so am I
Super fuckin commie
Go fuck yourself
You wouldn't believe how many low wage earners are looking down on themselves...
So basically it comes down to perceptions in society. In Australia teachers are looked down upon, in Finland you need a master's degree to teach, and in China teachers are seen with respect.
ehhhhh, that's pretty relative as well. It's teachers at the good schools that get respect. I've been there, kids don't care who stands in front of them and simply reads off a PPT to a class of 40-50 kids.
What they care about is going home and not being beaten (metaphorically) by their parents who basically turn them into miniature slaves and then they in turn do the same to their kids. I've watched intelligent, hard working Chinese turn down amazing people/opportunities/etc. because their family didn't approve nor would support them if they chose this.
Why do you think they pump out so many in the STEM subjects? Not because they want to, but because that's what the parents think will make money and will pay for. I know plenty of Engineering grads working at English schools because they are, unfortunately, in an over saturated field.
The problem is the parents don't understand this and force the kids to go to school 7 days a week to go to the best schools to go to a "decent" university (for business, STEM, "high salary positions.") The kids piss away university or do good at university, only to then graduate, and be employed in a trading company (here on the coast) or in a factory, or chemical plant where they work 60-80 hours a week to make equal or half of what someone working at McDonalds does in America (additionally OT is unpaid) ..... sooo respect and perception is relative to capital gains by the institutions.
Kanonamos same here in Brazil, doesn't who can't do anything else on their field of choice, go teach it
Because of teacher unions in Australia . No money's going to education
+Kanonamos A master's degree has nothing at all to do with respect or pay though. All it shows is that they have higher requirements. In my country teachers also get master's degrees, yet their wages are currently one of the main sources of political debate. And respect or looking down... meh, not much different than in the US (where I've also shortly gone to school as a kid).
Teachers need high-education to particularly grow EQ and deserve high respect :)
I seriously feel the need to crack my knuckles and write down a thank you note to the makers of these videos, every time around. Every Monday, to be precise. There's a popular quote by Albert Einstein (perhaps wrongly attributed to him but still works for our purposes) in which he states, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." Hence, imagine the work that has to be put in, in order to piece together such informative videos. It must be a tiresome but internally (&hopefully externally (-: i.e. financially ) rewarding practice. Good on you for all that you supply, SOL.
+The School of Life You guys really are amazing. Explaining things so well and so simply .Thank you for the school of life.
well said sir
+The School of Life Hey, Can you do a video about anarchism? would be very interesting
Very well said, undoubtedly.
Aw this was a cute note of appreciation, made me smile :)
I love when people decide to treat me like crap because I work a minimum wage job. Why is it ok to tell me I have to deal with your abuse on my line because you "make more money than me"? Seriously, I can't believe people can actually say that to another human being. People suck sometimes.
It's because minimum wage jobs are jobs that practically anyone can do. They figure they can mistreat you because most intelligent, capable people don't stay employed in the minimum wage range for very long. Statistics prove that point as well. If you have been working a minimum wage job for more than a year. The question isn't, why am I being treated so poorly. The question really should be why am I not treating myself better.
Don't sweat it. People who say that are no better than yourself or I, the truth is they're broke like everyone else...successful/wealthy people never talk about their finances.
Fuck those assholes!!
+matt patters can't explain it better
no people suck always, i to work for a minimum job and oh boy could i tell you about the snobs that i encounter at my job. But at the end of the day i laugh at them at their snoby behavior and i am glad that i don't behave like them.
My Dad is 62 and has been working hard, minimum wage jobs since he was 17. He still has to get up at 5:30 every morning, 6 days a week and will not be able to retire for at least 5 years. He spends his spare time doing errands and looking after the rest of the family. What you earn means nothing about who you are.
Real hero in society your old man is these are the people we should be looking up to no adjudicator in the middle to decide whats right and wrong
💗
He's a chump and a fool. Good job riding him though.
@@OP-xi1hv garbage take you have there
@@sun_buddy nah, his dad has every opportunity to change his life for the better which in turn will improve his family's life. There is nothing noble about working a minimum wage job since 17. It tells me that he let his fears control him.
a hitman you say...
+Derp Derpington Indeed good sir.
I don't like your tone on homosexuality, as I am not pleased beeing called mentally ill. But I agree that Wasalary inadequancy is bigger problem than gay right. I still think you should make marriage all over the world not related to the peple who commit it (as it is a contract and therefore should be done without excluding someone) but still the unfairness of economy is a way bigger issue
a real education would be a bit different, eh?
I`d happily kill for money, too bad I don't have the skills
That's messed up
In the USA our identity is closely tied to "what we do". Almost 100% of the time if you meet a married woman your very first question is "what does your husband do?". Virtually anyone you know you will introduce to others as "Bill Jones, he's a Contractor or (fill in the blank). We are closely tied to our occupation, and thus our Worth to Society. I'm a DoD Guard and earn about what a Large City Police Lieutenant earns but if I simply say; "I'm a Security Guard" you can see your Worth crumble in a person's eyes. It doesn't matter how intensive and diverse my training is I'm "just a Security Guard". Tell a person you are a Security Guard or that you work for Walmart or Wash Dishes at Denny's and you can see your value diminish in people's eyes no matter how educated or talented you happen to be. You are labeled by what you do for a living. Thanks, Capitalism!
This. Because I CHOOSE to work a low-income job at a craft store instead of a high-stress, intense Design job I've spent my years honing my skills for, I'm automatically looked down on. Because I decided to value things beyond my paycheck... :/
What questions me in your comment is "If you meet a married woman your very first question is "what does your HUSBAND do?". Well well... can't you / don't you just ask HER what SHE does ??? As a french woman, I must say I'm puzzled... Have a great day :-)
@@margot2001 True!... That WAS weird.
@@loverrlee7904 I would look down on you too....why work low income on purpose? Yet you claim you "spent years honing my skills "... that's stupid. There are low wage workers who are forced to earn a low income because they lack adequate skills. Yet, you squandered a significant portion of your life, just to waste it. Talk about a lack of ambition!
That's why people look down on low earners, we see it as a waste of talent & skill. In other words, lost potential.
Mari J Isn’t that the whole point of the video? The tendency of people and society to judge people’s worth by income and title?
There is a tendency to forget that contribution can not directly translate into money or title. A housewife/men for example contributes greatly to his/her family, while some very wealthy people enrich themselves from others, etc.
It's been a great year for The School of Life. You really are, in my humble O, the most important channel on RUclips. Thanks, thanks and ever thanks. John.
Not everyone is good at business and self promotion. Many great artists died penniless.
It would be interesting to see oil paintings of modern day fast-food workers, nurses, teachers, policemen, etc. in national galleries.
Not really. Would you want to see a painting of chips being fried in a dingy kitchen?
I see some comments saying that the reason why low wagers are where they are is because they choose passion over money as if that's a bad thing. Someone said that if you want to flip burgers be the CEO of a burger joint. However I disagree.
Take me for example, my passion is animals. Many people have stated to me that I should run my own zoo or farm, however, I know that if I were to do that, I would be working less with animals and more of the business aspect such as finances, marketing, etc. Which in turn, is not my passion at all and I would be leading a life that was never part of my happiness in the first place.
To summarize, I'd rather work and do something I love than to have so much money doing something that I never wanted to do in the first place. Maybe I'm just content with the small things in life that can bring me happiness. I am most definitely not a greedy person.
Any thoughts?
Agree 100%, my friend.
Yup, carry on looking after the animals. Sounds like you have given enough thought about the situation and have enough foresight to see where it would take you if u were to do otherwise :)
I think you really have your priorities well worked out. Good on you!
I have no greed index, but happy? I have had a few jobs I did enjoy. Most I didn't like. In honesty, I was there for the money.. I do not believe any employer has ever paid me my worth or tapped my full abilities. They don't even want to know my full background!
Well, I didn't make this world or its value systems. Talent, like a mind, is a terrible thing to waste...
I’m in school right now and I don’t want to try my best or reach my potential. I just want to go to a university that is suited to my level of intellect and just enjoy life without ever working too hard.
Perhaps this is normal in America but education is v. Highly valued in my country and all my parents and teachers keep trying to force me to work more than I am.
"Supply and demand." That is the simplest and best way of explaining wage differentiation that I have ever heard. This really makes me want to work on my skill set. Thank you for making these videos.
When I went to school, I met so many education majors, so many people who wanted to be teachers. Years later, I know only a handful who actually teach, the others couldn't find a full-time teaching job. Maybe part of the problem is that we allow hundreds of thousands of people to all study the same things. I think 18-year-olds would think differently about the loan they're going to take if they knew how many people they will be competing against for a job at the end of their studies... and for what salary...
As a low wage earner I've been shamed about my contribution to society. Now I'm considered essential. It's amazing that it took a pandemic to make people see that being part of the food supply chain is of some significance.
With a few exceptions, ones contribution to society rarely correlates to their wages. Which is why I think flaunting material wealth is so grotesque.
Well we don't admire someone for how much they contribute to society, we admire someone on how happy they are. And rich people seem to be happier. At least they have a lot of stuff that would make us momentarily very happy, so we perceive them as being happy, even if those things haven't caused them any happiness in a long time.
Well, that's misguided.
+mrkiky "Well we don't admire someone for how much they contribute to society" I have to respectfully disagree.
yah if u got money the retarded and the ghetto people think there bigger then they are
But it's actually one of the best ways for them to spread the wealth around, rather than keeping it in a bank vault. As long as wealth is moving to productive causes, humans overall standard of living will keep improving.
People who are paid low wages work harder than people with higher ones.
Thus, they have less time for themselves.
Because of that, they don't indulge in hobbies or deepen their interests too much.
The result is a person who's likely to be less interesting than someone who has more time to spend on things that aren't just problems of survival.
Mezurashii5 pretty sure a neurosurgeon works harder than a mcdonalds worker.
Dr. CowMoo That's why I worded what I said the way I did.
There's always an exception from a rule.
Yep a doctor 12 hour days
*I want more life F**ker* A burger doesn't take five hours to complete, nor does a life hand in the balance. Each surgery can, and a life does hang in the balance. There's more involved than knowledge. It takes a certain kind of personality to be a good surgeon.
You do realise doctors work really hard right? Long work hours, High pressure and stress. Plus emergency calls. I know someone who is a doctor and he always came back late at night like 1am only to recieve an emergency call at 3 am. And then coming back at 5 am. Only having wake up at 6:30 a.m to get ready for work
omg now i feel inspired to use art to change the mindset of people towards low wage earners too (this channel is so good omg)
Despite the fact that the video is genuinely well made, it does not answer the question which is evoked in the title. Besides the sheer economical approach, I was expecting philosophical or socio-psychological elements to dissect the matter.
+Dxtreame punked very true,in addition to that there is also this video ' how to find fullgiling work' in which they absolutely didnt answer the question in title.
Ha. ClickBait
+Tarek Zaiter why u mad bro?
*Economic
Dxtreame punked dude it answer the question. it just explicit idk how you not understand that
I remember doing traffic flagging one day and some lady pulled up mad because the road was blocked and told one of the workers she makes more than them. When people ask "what do you do for a living" or "where so you work" what they're really trying to figure out is how to value you.
A hitman is paid more than a nurse not just because of differences in worker availability. If people didn't value the work done by hitmen, it wouldn't matter how few of them they are. Their wage would be zero. It is exactly because they people value the work of a super-assassin very highly that their wage is high (demand). In relation to the availability of hitmen of course (supply).
But difference in ability does affect work value. If assasination is an easy job, i.e everyone can do it, then the value of assasin would be reduced, and in turn the pay wouldn't be high.
Except the ratio (and power) differentials between employers and employees means that employers systemically bid down the price of labor by compelling the potential employees to compete against each for the scarce and desirable jobs. The freedom to work for wages or go hungry drives the potential employee to desperation. This imbalanced market (called oligopsony - where the buyers are fewer and more powerful than the sellers) results in a pool of people who want to work, who are willing to work, but can't find a job because the employers have power over potential and actual employees. This pool of unemployed people have the effect of increasing the supply of labor, and thus drive down the price of that labor. Labor is systemically under compensated in free markets due to the ability of employers to corner the market for jobs.
Having earned fairly well myself selling expensive items and having been surrounded by wealthy people, I can safety say I find more people that do whats considered menial tasks more interesting and of substance then those who rely on wealth as measure of their self worth. Such worth is an illusion and only granted by others impressed by such display, In reality who they are is who they are, some good, some decent but many are simply eternally busy building a grand facade to cover their insecurities.
Yup.
I don't see what people's Big Issue is with low wage earners.
did you not watch the video
Mean Black Hippie No
+Sam Barkley ISWYDT
BDSK Thank you, obviously others didn't.
+Sam Barkley you're a goddamn eyeball. I don't see how you didn't see it
I am *always* rallying against this fallacy. It is so important not to demonise those of lower economic status. I am very glad this video was created. Thank you.
Except when it comes to white men because they're all privileged, right?
What actually are you talking about? I'm talking about the fallacy that those with the most money are necessarily the most worthy of praise.
Sorry I'm picking bones today.. and I noticed that you're subscribed to shives and you have dyed hair. So I figure ah! an sjw to play with. Shall we begin..
No one is as privileged as those who can give themselves pay rises. That is as much as I'm willing to give you on the topic, kind sir. You have a lovely day :)
Not going with 'down with the patriarchy'? ok (sigh). And you, miss.
Humans bore me. And what humans value in other humans bores me even more.
So who are you then?
@@amelinixon9761 don't you see the profile picture?
Amen
As if you are anything more than an average human
Not everyday that you see Kim K in a educational video.
I thought "Kim K and RayJ" was pretty educational. I know I learned a lot
Ashleigh Smith Or Cristiano Ronaldo for that matter.
Interesting that he was picked as the example of the over-earning football rather than someone like Messi. Seems like the School of Life have also accepted the unfortunate image of CR7 as a character who is easy to despise because of his wealth.
Lmao
😆😁
Sigh. High earners are valued by society because the are attractive. They are in turn attractive because they have power, which leads to a whole bunch of other things. Power is and has always been valued.
No billionaire was self made, he had thousands if not millions of people building him/her up unknowingly working as their employee.
Sadly in society business owners take home the most money even if most have few too no real above average skills.
Really? No skills?
Surely you can easily replicate the success?
No
High risk high reward
this video is misleading,
one of my best friends is a hit-man and he is struggling to pay the bills
That's because he doesnt get hired enough.
mike mikey then he isnt a good hitman
anyone can kill a man but not anyone can kill a safe guarded man
note the difference m8
Michael Scofield not manny people can murder someone, at least not without getting serious mental health consequences.
lmao
It's because he's terrible at his job. A hit-man, like a spy, should never let anyone know what they do for a living.
I work in a supermarket, and I'm proud of it. Everyone needs food.
This is one of the most useful, cathartic and reassuring things on the internet! Thank you very much!!
Probably the most succinct description of how our society works I've come across. And a really wonderful message too, it makes me feel less guilty about my earnings.
Thank you for this.
In my home care business I constantly speak about how discrimination against caregivers affects people's decision-making to pay a decent salary for home care services. Wealthier they are more discriminating they are against caregivers. Besides not wanting to pay the right salary, some people take advantage of caregivers by having them do the work that is not their job responsibility.
I could never understand how a human being who gives a loving care to another human being 24/7 be disrespected in such away. I had to start speaking about it, it affects my business but I can't allow one human being disrespecting or taking advantage of another human being.
Most people are not aware of their prejudices; they get offended when I point them out. I want to help them be mindful of their biases to correct them, but it's impossible; they are too busy thinking about their needs. People lack self-awareness, and it causes a lot of unhappiness.
I can literally get people killed if I'm neglectful at my job but only made $8/hour starting. Also, I know I've directly saved several lives. ::shrugs::
you work at an amusmant park buddy, literaly high school kids can do your job.
@@jewjewabrams4113 Why are you here? Did you not watch the video? And how exactly do you know where he works?
Oh! Are you a lifeguard? Yeah, I get the feeling.
Thank you for saving lives and doing your job responsibly.
@@jewjewabrams4113 I wouldn't go to any amusement park that's run by high school kids.
Wow, these videos are so amazing. You never cease to amaze with your captivating voice and (seemingly) infinite wisdom.
You sir, have a very soothing voice. Thank you for telling us all these stories.
Dude... you've just changed my life....
Thank you soo much for sharing your wisdom
MY FAVOURITE RUclips CHANNEL BY FAR......WORTHY OF MY TIME EVEN MORE THAN MY OTHER STUDY INTERESTS....EVEN CHESS. THANK YOU XXX
Thanks!
jim morrison IKR!!
I would like to thank you for all the videos you've done. The School of Life really open my eyes about my surrounding.
People who achieve a great deal are admirable. However I find that everyday people are also very interesting. Some of the most wonderful conversations are ones I've had sitting next to someone on a train on a long trip. People open up about their lives and it's very intriguing to see how differently people prioritize various goals and values.
And then there's pewdiepie making 340.000 usd/ month
Supply & demand:
1 PewDiePie - 40 million demanders
It's not his fault, it's our fault for watching him.
just because "Nothing is being taken by force from anyone." doesn't prove nothing is wrong with it
comedyman112 and entertaining millions...
Isn't it a little bit easy to hate on Piewdiepie ? Assuming that these numbers are right ...
So basically, we need more hitmen.
No we need to put money in it's place, way down the emotional hierarchy.
The achievement of skill and honor should feel much better than winning the lottery. But for most people it's the opposite.
If you want to become rich you need to see money as a tool, like a hammer. Do you imagine a builder getting ecstatic about the idea of owning thousands of hammers? But yet most people, when they think about winning millions of dollars are very enthusiastic. This is a basic insanity which needs to be conquered. Being a multi millionaire doesn't feel any better than being lower middle class if you have the same mindset.
Once you've cured your insanity about money then work to accumulate money for the things you want to own and to do. But never forget that becoming a better person is far more likely to increase your happiness than owning and doing whatever you want.
Irish Jester It's a good tool for sure. And I'm a currency trader, so you'd think that I'd love money like your imaginary builder loves his hammers. But I don't.
Loving money makes it harder to attain. And it makes evil methods of generating wealth seem good.
As for freedom, money doesn't grant anyone that. Self defense is the only way to have freedom. If you use money to buy yourself some defense then yes it can do that job for you. Or you could vote, and fight, for a government that defends you in return for paying tax in the form of money.
So once again it's not the money that's the real good. It's the proper use of money that should be loved. Just like the proper use of time and the proper use of food and everything else that we use as humans.
ObamaoZedong Just go to Silk Road and you will find plenty
eddie 7000 Damn, you're smart.
+Irish Jester and +eddie 7000 It is generally though to be an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction, "and, but, or, so"!
Acceptable: Lucy is taking the early flight. But I’m taking the red-eye.
Better: Lucy is taking the early flight. I’m taking the red-eye.
Better: Lucy is taking the early flight, but I’m taking the red-eye.
Incorrect: But, I’m taking the red-eye.
Correct: But, because of my precarious financial condition, I’m taking the red-eye.
Thank you so much for making these videos! I really enjoyed learning from you guys.
THAT WAS GREAT! just true. and I love how you spoke about art in a more meaningful sence than beauty! absolutly inspiring! *-* thank you for giving me new thoughts in a better direction and much love from germany
The underlying factor which is the greatest variable is the concept of value. What is valuable is determined by the values of the individual. The phenomenon of people with material riches being admired and respected is a reflection of the prevailing values of the people doing the admiring. To really address the issue we must understand how we come to acquire our values.
jesus, this channel is growing fast!
great thoughts.
the TV show "Fixer-Upper" comes to mind. The central figures do not make an extremely high salary, but watching them produce something of beauty and value for their clients regularly brings tears to the eyes of their viewers.
I suspect many people are inspired to do what they do or contribute to the world in the way they do because of the virtue inherent to them and their work.
pardon my french, but ho-lee--shit. that last bit just perfectly described why i love creative nonfiction journalism so much! i recently wrote a long form piece on the lives of janitors and their daily routines, and it was very well received, and i felt like i had done something important without even realizing. thank you so much for putting it into words.
You know when I first graduated, I applied as a cashier in a grocery store because I'm having difficulty finding a job that needs no experience. People look down upon me even though I have a degree. I was working with a minimum wage back then and I hate it. Few people respect me and they are full of themselves.
The School of Life should be broadcasted on air tv 24/7
+MenaceRx Yeah, that's not gonna happen, my friend. Corporations can't monetise intellectual awakening. In fact, that would go against their business model altogether.
+Robby Attila Yeah, I partially agree with you. People do chose to mindlessly gobble up all that garbage that's fed to them on TV. But at the same time, is there really a fair choice out there? There is ONLY rubbish on TV. You couldn't watch something decent, even if you wanted to. And you know why? Because that rubbish is highly profitable. Try monetising history or philosophy channel without saturating the content with adds or trying to sell shit by shoving products down people's throats.
+K Dave To a certain degree, you are right. Paintings & art were just forms of entertainment back in the day, when there were no Internet, TV or even radio. People had to do something. And they used to come together and look at and/or discuss paintings and other art forms. But I think there is a difference in quality of this entertainment. At least back then they were admiring the craftsmanship or talent of the artist. Now half of the things you see on TV don't require any talent. Those people just happened to be born into wealth and ended up in the blue box.
+K Dave But I agree that it's questionable whether us humans, collectively as a group, would ever reach any sort of enlightenment at all. I don't think that's possible. Not any time soon anyway. Maybe one day, when robots would be doing literally everything for us and we would be bored out of our minds, only then we might start exploring what's actually important in life again. Or we will just fall into the arms of gluttony and will die out as species.
You have such a soothing and intelligent sounding voice. I always feel smarter when I watch a video of yours. Thanks mate! 😎👍
Impressive video! Astounding graphics!
1:08 'Economics states that wages are determined not by social contribution, but by the number of people able and willing to do a given job that others want done.'
Oh my god! You're amazing!!! Thanks from Brazil!!! Have you ever considered offering online courses?
+The School of Life have you considered a partnership with Khan Academy?
+Lee snyder I too think this guy needs a larger platform.Many are in need for this .
+The School of Life Alain, Ever heard of Istvan meszaros? The guy's still alive nowadays, a marxist philosopher that packs quite a punch.
+gabriel godoi not anymore
This is a beautiful video. I real gift!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for making these videos.
If everyone understood that some people want a simple life, and yet still feel valued for the time they give. Then just maybe will the employers be more than willing to give them better pay. It is clear that their is a lack of understanding from each level of income. Acceptance through thoughtfulness.
It's true, but it's not just "how many people can do the job" that determines wage it's also "how many people want to". For example, my life goal is to buy some land in the mountains and build a cabin. To do this I want to spend the least amount of time working that I can and I figured out a way to do it. Instead of looking for jobs that pay well because they need a vast amount of experience/education I started looking for jobs that pay well because, well because no-one wants to do them. After a month course I am about to start the next 2 years of my life as a waste water treatment operator, it's literally a shit job but it starts at 70k a year with amazing benefits.
Thanks a lot, NOT only for the videos but for speaking English in its purest form. The narrator's English pronunciation is the 24 carat pure form of English and is to be preserved in Museum for the coming generations to follow.
Very insightful and logical thinking. Enjoyed the presentation.
Wait wait wait... So, it's not contributions that is a factor, but the number of people who can do that job.. And you don't see that that's exactly the same? Contributions come from a need, whether or not society knows it had the need or not. Because the need is there it makes us see the things that these rich people do as large contributions.
Now, when the supply of workers in a specific branch is higher than the need from society, we see their work as contributing less. And thus, they will get paid less.
This too shows in the 'worth' of their work. Sure, making food for the masses is incredibly important and should be worth a lot, BUT because supply is so damn high (at least in our western world), the worth of the individual doing the work diminishes. Your choice of work will influence the worth of the branch of work you're going to do and the worth of your produce
Taking the nurse. He/She does do an important job and the (emotional) worth is high. Problem is that the return on their work is incredibly low. We cannot expect every sick person to have enough money to pay high amounts for both the things that actually make them better, plus the extensive care of a nurse. Sick people are expensive and wages for nurses is one way of limiting the burden on those same sick people. Strangely enough, also a supply and demand problem; where there is a demand for money from these nurses, but the supply of money will always be limited by the amount of sick people and the money they bring in.
Not to mention that healthcare will endlessly get more expensive the more we can cure. The harder the disease, the longer we have to wait for the cure, the higher the need will get and the more worth the produce will be. That means there also will be endlessly less and less money for nurses available.
Justice or fairness is then a weird thing to bring in.. Pay is tied to supply and demand. If there was one nurse in the world and people would have a high demand for nurses, he or she could earn millions by simply just letting the richest sick person pay him or her whatever they want. And there *are* rich nurses around that in the private sector help the rich during their sick time. There just aren't enough rich sick people to go around :-P
Christianity doesn't bring justice to the table, for the simple fact that also within christianity the worth of someone is arbitrary. It's not what someone does, it's not how good they are, it's the opinion of you that god has that decides whether or not you will gain reward. Sure, there are some rules that, when broken, could make absolutely sure you will end up in hell. But the rules are vague at the best of times and contradictory at the worst. Try to create a justice system based on that and you'll soon realize how bad it actually is.
Marxism also doesn't bring justice to the table, because it stifles progress, innovation and even income. Yes, also income. You might very well try to equalize pay, that doesn't change the worth of the produce created. This is why a bread was worth more than gold in soviet russia. Literally making it impossible to have a working system.
The only solution I see is a mixed system. Communism/socialism works, in that by sharing a burden, we can lessen it for all. But taken too far, the burden endlessly increases due to, basically, inflation. Capitalism works, in that it gives everyone the opportunity to be their best and getting paid well for the contributions you have done. But taken too far, people will loose the opportunity to be their best, by making money the hurdle you have to get over to make that contribution.
So pick what works! 3Social healthcare system seems to be better than a private one. Luxery goods should stay private , etc. See what makes the problem within each branch seperately and fix THAT. There is no 'one system fits all'. And it's damn annoying seeing people still only looking at extremes instead of a more moderate approach.
+Shangori
Nobody can play football as well as Messi, he is the only one who can do that job. But does that mean that his contribution, playing a game, is incredibly great?
A lot of people can be farmers, does that mean that providing food is less of a contribution than playing soccer?
Yup.
+videodaniel8945 Yes. Yes it does. Sure, the task MUST be done by someone, ban it CAN be done by anyone. Therefore, the value of a person doing it is very low. To claim that being a farmer is somehow deserving of more honor than a soccer player is like saying that someone who draws water from rivers in an industrialized city with a complex water utility system with reservoirs and plumbing has meaningful work because people need water.
I think everyone also forgets that street smart wisdom "Mo money, mo problems."
+videodaniel8945 Adam Smith over 300 years ago wrote that there is nothing more useful than water, and nothing less valuable. There is nothing more useless than diamond, and nothing more valuable. There is "Value in Use" and "value in exchange", the latter is what money is rewarding because service is an exchange of money for your time.
AND GOD IS LOOKING AT ALL THOSE THAT LOOK DOWN ON THE POOR ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT AND SOPHISTICATED VIDEO!
Thank you greatly for pointing out how there's 'no room' to judge the *worth* of the work for which wages are given;the main concern is the strength of demand in relation to supply taken in one direction.
The point about art highlighting under-appreciated work is nice though I was wondering if it might be a bit more different if the medium is photography rather than say painting.
the wages of a MALE footballer are actually sickening
School of Life, $50,000 is a moderate salary in the U.S. Don't believe the hype. You can raise a family, save money and buy a house with $50,000!!
You can if you don't buy a new car every 3 years
Ben Chesterman Very true but most peopel don't
try living in a third world country making
$6,000
i imagine it is yearly
marlonyo It is yearly!
The video bought a tear to my eye.
This video was awesome. Thank you :)
Yes, life is not fair, we've got used to it early in life.
But, who is to blame?
I've always said life is not fair because people make it unfair. It could be fair.
Let's be clear folks. Communism may have had the lofty ideal of income equality based on perceived contributions to society , but functionally it's at the cost of individual agency. It didn't work because it cannot work. It requires rational agents, which don't exist in the real world. Whether you think our current iteration of capitalism is evil or not, only a free market can reward people by observable contributions to society and only a free market that keeps corporations in check can preserve the most agency as an economic system.
Increasingly socialist policy is trendy and fashionable to people who lack personal autonomy, or otherwise people who don't realize that giving the government more power isn't the way to take power back from corporate entities.
I grow worried by the number of sources who begin to openly hail Marxist theories as models to emulate or otherwise regard as an achievable ideal.
+joe jarden I'm not sure you understand my assertion then. Public ownership of resources, land, production and services will not work without rational agents. It is an impossible ideal because public ownership means public responsibility. Public responsibility means public authority. When everything you own is publicly owned, it is within the authority of the public to tell you what to do with it, which inevitably means the states authority. Authoritarianism is intrinsic to the system. This robs agency and creates the perfect environment for tyrants.
Are you trying to establish a distinction between Karl Marx's ideal, and every actualized instance of communism in history? As best as I can figure, what you call "State Communism" is the inevitable result of Marxist's communism, because we don't have rational agents that work in seamless cooperation with one another. We never will.
+Stiggandr1 Amen brother.
Big Government is evil
Beautiful! art is a way of appreciation.
Thank you thank you thank you Alain. School of life changed my thinking in so many ways
Realized how important role economics plays in a persons life
Unions can help to bargain wages up higher and can also try to improve working conditions e.g. to get workers some sick leave and holiday leave and good lighting and air-conditioning. If you can join a union, please try to do so and then go to meetings and support the important work your union does. It's very unlikely that looking at a Vermeer is going to persuade your employer to pay you better but if you have good union representatives, that can really help.
I don't have a negative view of low wage earners. I come from a low wage household, and I've seen how hard many of these people work. My mom had 3 jobs at one point, and we still had a hard time getting food at the end of the month through her income alone. My dad didn't make much either, so he mostly paid the mortgage, car and heating, while mom paid for food, electricity and phone. Her father was a fisherman, so we got a lot of fish from him, so we were never actually hungry, but the threat of lack of food was always there. My brother and I also got quite a bit of hand-me-down clothes from my mom's cousin; a wealthy housewife with 5 children. They always had bags upon bags of high quality children's clothes that her children had grown out of.
So my childhood was never lacking in anything, but I saw how my parents struggled economically, even with all their hard work.
I was LITERALLY asking myself this question the other day while checking out at Walmart.
I am not waiting for no pie in the sky, I want to live my best life here and now
A "mining tycoon" does provide social value.
An industrialist often does provide "social value."
This notion that those who employ others provide no social value is nonsense.
Much of the power that allows for this message is derived from coal power. I think there is "social value" to that.
breathtaking video
So much wisdom and hypnotising to listen to you Alan 😉😄
But this doesn't explain why we would look down on low wage earners, it just explains why they exist in the first place and what we could do to give them the credit they deserve
Or am I misunderstanding something here ?
This video does a terrible job at explaining how wages are determined. You have to analyze both the supply side and demand side to get a picture of how the wage of a particular job is determined. The video only analyzes a fraction of the supply side, namely the availability of people able to carry out a specific job. Without also analyzing the demand side, you cannot arrive at a meaningful result.
Fak u Beach
Hmmm
My issue was with "looking up" to and being nervous around the CEOs and millionaires now I try not to act differently around people just because they've made alot of money
Really interesting as usual :)
"Looking down" is taught. Raised with more accepting values, I never have scorned the poor. As long as self-serving views are passed along, there's little hope of society's overcoming them. America's obsession with "success," the use of the word "loser," the removal of compassion from "Christianity;" these are signs of spiritual decline and evil "values." Those who watch School of Life vids are already thinking, evaluating, instead of uncritically believing. Self-important panderers like Trump stir up viciousness for their own shameless purposes. If America as a whole can't grow up, let's split into Red and Blue sections, so the civilized can jettison the mob.
If someone works hard at their job enjoys it and supports themselves then thats what I admire. I decide who has a valuable commodity by where I spend my money. I don't spend it on products or services that I don't find valuable. I have never given money to any sports star, hardly any recording artists, and very few film or tv stars. I don't think what they provide is worth that much so I don't spend my money there. Who is it that makes these people wealthy? It sure isnt me. I couldn't care less about people like Kim K or other celebrities or reality tv stars. I don't watch that crap because I find them to be worthless as far as what value they add to the world. I'm an above average tipper because when I don't want to cook or serve or clean up after myself then I consider the service valuable to my convenience and comfort.
I'm not really a fan of paintings, but the one at 6:28 is gorgeous.
currently I live in India, and I just so happen to be an aspiring painter. The workers in the fields always attract my eye and I hope to paint them one day when I'm done with school!
one person's savings = another person's debts. We cannot all be millionaires.
Are you guys planning on doing a video on Noam Chomsky?
They don't dig Chomsky for some reason unknown to the audience.
+Alex Bode Judging by this Video I don't think these would do him justice. Do yourself a favour and watch more Noam. Don't waste your time with this neo-liberal capitalist claptrap.
This would instantly be my favorite channel if I don't have to watch with my headset on
THE BEST CHANNEL ON YOU TUBE...
Speak for yourselves. Most low-wage earners do something useful, unlike most big-wage earners.
I disagree. The big wage earners are usually the ones creating jobs and investing money. Are some greedy...yes, but is that to say poor people are never greedy? If you're poor your whole life then it's your fault, and you suck with money....
rdrum86 "If you're poor your whole life then it's your fault..."
Thank you for that brilliant insight.
Incidentally, you have committed a logical fallacy (viz. affirming the consequent) in your assertion that "[t]he big wage earners are usually the ones creating jobs and investing money."
you've made me want to be an assassin
Excellent. I really enjoy this Channel
I love this piece.
0:07 Damn I earn even less per annum.
The somewhat jarring "take a look at our shop" bit totally removes from the message that capital should not be considered important :/
+The School of Life This whole video is a fail. It ignores other aspects of work such are the risks or working at an inconvenient time.
That hitman cannot work at his home, and he risks getting caught all the time. His work is also illegal so he also risks legal repercussions of his actions.
And what does that lace maker risks?
+GrimFaceHunter
cheers to tou
The people willing to or able to take those risks will be in the tiniest minority- thus agreeing with the point made.
+tisgoodjuju some people just dont get it, it amazes me
+Imperial Maniac sorry dude but this is a failed reasoning, if you think things all the way through you'll see it's not that way.
Great video as always! Also, (not in a weird way) I love your voice! I'll pay you a 7 figure wage to follow me around and narrate my life hahaha. Keep up the good work!
I enjoyed this, thanks.