But this is typical of the thinking that has taken over government and corporations any more. Labor is a commodity to them. But people tend to be much more complicated than a trainload of coal or copper ingots. I really think voters and consumers need to start demonstrating to politicians and corporate leaders that they are indeed more than commodities - by changing who they vote for and who they buy from.
Then, there's the "bread and circuses" aspect. Joe Sixpack's not aware of the implications here, and won't want to learn as long as he's got the wide-screen and the aforementioned six pack.
I'm open to encouragement, and I'll certainly do my part, but I am getting concerned. And that's not like me.