In China in the 1920's, labor was so cheap that humans were used instead of horses to pull loads. The horses actually had to be fed, where the humans...were left to their own devices.
Which usually mean't starving.
"In China in the 1920's, labor was so cheap that humans were used instead of horses to pull loads. The horses actually had to be fed, where the humans were left to their own devices."
OUCH ! It looks like we went the full circle now....