• Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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    7 months ago

    Employment is production for the direct benefit of capitalists. Uber drivers are employees, whether Uber wants to call them that or not.

    Self-employment is literally the worker owning and operating the means of production.

    Our economic and social policies should favor self employment.

    • bouh@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      Wrong. A company can be a cooperative or state owned.

      Being self employed though means you are the only one to support the risks of your activity and it leaves you a pray from bigger businesses.

      But liberal propaganda did its job and you’re probably indoctrinated with individualism and liberalism.

      • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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        7 months ago

        I see. Because big businesses prey on small businesses, small businesses just shouldn’t exist, and it’s liberal, libertarian, individualistic propaganda to argue otherwise.

        • bouh@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Small businesses grow, that’s how capitalism works. When OP talks about empowering individuals, that’s liberal ideology. When talking about how self-employment is better for society, that’s liberal ideology.

          • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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            7 months ago

            Small businesses grow, that’s how capitalism works.

            That’s patently false. Most small businesses start small and never grow beyond that small stage.

            I don’t get the impression that you have any experience with small business. You certainly don’t have enough to speak with the degree of authority you have assumed.

            • bouh@lemmy.world
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              7 months ago

              I know plenty of small businesses. I know none that keep to one person and aren’t disguised employees.

              But then, if there are two persons in your business, who’s the boss? And if there’s none, congrats, it’s a cooperative!

              Employment is something workers won in the early 20th century. Ask yourself why they fought for it maybe. Then come back with your arrogance.

              • Rivalarrival@lemmy.today
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                7 months ago

                I know none that keep to one person

                Then you don’t know many small businesses. There are more sole proprietorships than every other type of business combined.

                And if there’s none, congrats, it’s a cooperative!

                That’s called a “partnership”. That’s the second most common type of business.

                Employment is something workers won in the early 20th century.

                Labor laws are what workers won in the early 20th century, not employment. Employment long predated labor laws.

                The reason they fought for labor laws is because employment naturally trends toward exploitation, and needs to be reined in through regulation. Unfortunately, influence in labor regulation is now dominated by employer, not employee, so exploitation is not being adequately addressed.

                Employer exploitation is not a problem for the self employed.