In a message dated 00-08-06 06:28:25 EDT, Tom Warren wrote:
<< You may redefine "wage" as you will, that's okay with me. I am not hugely
enamored of the way it has been used as a term by me, Julien or you. >>
Because I am not conversant with current or historical economic or
sociological paradigms, perhaps some of what follows may seem off the point,
perhaps even pointless or naive, but.....
As I see it 'wage' (irrespective of current classical economic definitions)
is merely a symbolic representation of energy flow. Energy, of course flows
in only one direction: to a less useful state (2nd Law). The higher the wage
the faster the entropic flow. And like all flows, wages waste energy in the
process of doing work. In an economic sense they compell or facilitate work
(energy flow), the higher the wage the faster the flow regardless of the
medium of exchange (cash, gold, chickens, wives).
Thus I agree with Tom when he says, "....[these ficticious concepts] allow
you to erroneously imagine economic activity in some place other than within
the natural world. This allows you to overlook the true wage of human
activity." Sure, even labor can be considered a 'natural' resource, whether
it is the human energy required grow a kilo of corn or drive a truck, or the
caloric requirements of a nanny or telephone sanitizer. Even designing a
computer program requires a personal energy expenditure in excess of that
required by the programmer at rest. Therefore, his wage (representing that
energy expenditure) is his contribution to increased entropy, as does buying
and operating the fancy SUV he bought with those wages. And I'm being quite
literal when I say that this energy is 'spent.' More accurately, it is wasted
--- never to be used again.
We all recognise that classical economists are in ignorance or denial of the
2nd Law. Most of their concepts, including 'wage,' in no way perceptible to
me relate to the reality of energy flow. As are most sociologists, they seem
more concerned with their particular ideology. The idea that, "All human
activity is an energy sink. Therefore all human activity requires consumption
of resources." Is barely alluded to in their theories, let alone in the
classroom or boardroom. Indeed it will soon be demonstrated that, "We have
ignored this to our peril."
Hallyx
"Ideology is a form of denial, a denial of reality. It is a profound form of
na�vet�."
--- John Ralston Saul
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