Ted Rall for April 30, 1997

Transcript:

The ethics of anti-employment. Americans used to adhere to a work ethic: Anyone who didn't work was lazy and worthless. (Man: If you had any self-respect, you'd have a degrading job.) Economists have learned that every 1.3 million people out of work cuts inflation by 1% low inflation increases stock prices, making more money available to business and raising productivity. (Television: Today, GM announced plans to lay off 21,000 workers cutting prices on plastic plants by one-tenth of one percent.) Now there's no point working- you do more good for the economy by staying home. If no one worked, we'd have deflation: Your savings would increase in value by spectacular amounts! (Man: Cool! Vermont is on sale for ten bucks!) The new unemployed: American patriots! (Man: You do realize that this is a depression, right?) (Man 2: Who cares? This is capitalism at its finest!)