On: What happened when Swedes tried six-hour days?

[mrec]

> If people [...] bought a home one income could support

I think GGP's point was that those are becoming hard-to-impossible to find in many places, especially places with decent-paying jobs.

I don't agree with him that this was a deliberate conspiracy by employers to keep workers oppressed; I think it has far more to do with an out-of-control financial sector and governments addicted to over-loose monetary policy. But blaming people's "uncontrolled passions" for wanting a stable home, one they might actually be able to pay off one day, is a bit silly.

(Disclaimer: this is a view from London, which while it might not be quite the absolute worst for housing is pretty damn close to it. YMMV.)

[kristopolous → mrec]

Businesses extracting profit from the labor of its workforce isn't a conspiracy. It's fully disclosed to children in school and I don't think anyone challenges it.

Now if the question is whether they try to maximize profits, once again, this is not a secret or a back room conspiracy, this is how it works.

As an employee, enter into every negotiation knowing this.

[mrec → kristopolous]

> Businesses extracting profit from the labor of its workforce isn't a conspiracy.

I'm not sure you who you're arguing with. What I said was

> I don't agree with him that this was a deliberate conspiracy

and branchless' GGP comment I was disagreeing with wasn't about "extracting profit from the labor of its workforce" in general, it was about "The whole point behind high land prices is to prevent most people achieving financial independence."

[hx87 → mrec]

Loose monetary policy is only a part of the problem; NIMBYism and excessive historical preservation is probably a larger contributor.

[branchless → mrec]

Agreed, finance gone mad. Especially in London.