[MD] Free Speech

[Ant McWatt]

Platt Holden stated to Arlo November 25th:

>An example of why I like Friedman's intellect:
>
>"Milton Friedman taught that "the substitution of contract arrangements for 
>status
>arrangements was the first step toward the freeing of the serfs in the 
>Middle Ages."
>He cautioned against set prices. "The high rate of unemployment among 
>teenagers,
>and especially black teenagers, is both a scandal and a serious source of 
>social
>unrest. Yet it is largely a result of minimum-wage laws." Those laws are 
>"one of
>the most, if not the most, anti-black laws on the statute books." -- column 
>by
>William F. Buckley

Ant McWatt comments:

Great send-up about white racism and employment there, Platt.  I've 
sometimes had my doubts but I knew you had a secret Bill Hicks hiding in 
you.  I'm not sure I can reach such a high standard of ironic humour but 
I'll give it a go.

Another "Buckley type of reason" is that black teenagers are unemployed 
because their drug of choice is cannabis (which de-motivates users) rather 
than alcohol (as preferred by white teenagers).

Or how about this "Buckley" type classic?

Black teenagers have higher rates of unemployment than other social groups 
because of health and safety reasons.  If an office or warehouse has a power 
cut, a black teenager will be more difficult to see than a white person and 
due to their youthful energy will be more of a collision hazard.  Therefore, 
it is reasonable for the average employer to choose older people of a 
lighter skin because they would be easier to see in such a situation 
(especially businesses without back-up generators or those businesses 
involved in mining).

Or how about this other "health and safety reason"?

Black teenagers shouldn't be employed in the catering industry as it's more 
difficult for an employer to see if they are clean enough to handle food.  
Moreover, because they are still growing, they will have larger appetites 
and will therefore be more likely to eat the company's food while working 
than older people.

I wouldn't want to do Buckley out of his comedy career so I better end it 
there.

>You won't find many "intellects" in academe opposed to the minimum wage 
>law.

Another line of wisdom from Platt Holden, man of universal compassion and 
selflessness.  Looks like I better re-think using my Milton Friedman book 
"How Margaret Thatcher and I buggered-up the British Quality of Life in the 
late 20th century" as a door stop!

Best wishes,

Anthony


P.S. You avoided Arlo's point about relativism, btw.

_________________________________________________________________
Download the new Windows Live Toolbar, including Desktop search! 
http://toolbar.live.com/?mkt=en-gb