From: Michael Perelman (michael@ECST.CSUCHICO.EDU)
Date: Wed Aug 03 2005 - 11:28:29 EDT
I never saw any mention of international competition, but quite a bit about giving workers time for immorality. On Tue, Aug 02, 2005 at 03:27:38PM -0400, glevy@PRATT.EDU wrote: > Hi Michael P: > > Well, I can't check on any sources now, but surely someone > must have used a "competitiveness" argument against the 8-hour-day. > I.e. domestic firms, if forced to comply with a limit on the working > day, would be at a competitive disadvantage in relation to firms from > other nations which had no such limit. I suspect, in the context of > the 19th Century, conservatives also made a "laziness" argument -- > since the working class was deemed to be slothful. I bet you > could also find a conservative argument (from the Church?) that the > 8-hour-day would increase alcoholism and othere sorts of sinful activities > like adultery. After all, the working class with too much time on its > hands would surely fall into all sorts of moral depravities. > > In solidarity, Jerry -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
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