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Ian S.
Atwater, MN     11/02/2009 11:35 PM

Barb, "If a worker receives a wage sufficiently large to enable him to provide comfortably for himself, his wife and his children, he will, if prudent, gladly strive to practice thrift; and the result will be, as nature itself seems to counsel, that after expenditures are deducted there will remain something over and above through which he can come into the possession of a little wealth. We have seen, in fact, that the whole question under consideration cannot be settled effectually unless it is assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought to favor this right and, so far as it can, see that the largest possible number among the masses of the population prefer to own property." (#65) "Wealthy owners of the means of production and employers must never forget that both divine and human law forbid them to squeeze the poor and wretched for the sake of gain or to profit from the helplessness of others." (#17) "As regards protection of this world’s good, the first task is to save the wretched workers from the brutality of those who make use of human beings as mere instruments for the unrestrained acquisition of wealth." (#43) "Care must be taken, therefore, not to lengthen the working day beyond a man’s capacity. How much time there must be for rest depends upon the type of work, the circumstances of time and place and, particularly, the health of the workers." (#43) That is from a Pope. I am not saying that we need to take the wealth of the rich and give to the poor. I am saying that the disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" has never been more clearly apparent and substantial than it is today. And the fact that workers wages/benefits did not reflect the boom of business shows this more. I think employees will be sadly mistaken if they are counting on a COLA this year. Businesses wanted to hold onto that money when they had it, and now they can't becuase it will cause finacial hardship.