Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Freedom and Work
Last week in class we discussed the freedom of employment choices. One of the circumstances presented by Mr. Perry was if the person was presented with being an MTV personality or a fast-food cashier, or something along those lines: a more reasonable alternative versus a less reasonable one. If the person chose the fast-food job, they would have made a fully free choice, as they declined a more acceptable alternative. However, what if the person chose the more acceptable occupation? Would this be considered a free choice, or were they forced into choosing something better because the other alternative was less acceptable? These questions also bring up an even more debatable question: What is an acceptable choice? Where does one draw the line between reasonable and unreasonable? Depending on the person's background, opinions and morals, the line could vary. For example, here at Vanderbilt, I'm sure 99% of us would consider even a management position at Burger King unacceptable. But for a person who has grown up impoverished and not as fortunate, that would be a very acceptable position, maybe even an aspiration. Although this line would seem unique to each person, I believe that there is one underlying rule for an acceptable job: there needs to be respect between the employer and the employee. Any job that does not respect the privacy and freedom of its employees is unethical. This respect includes minimal monitoring and acceptable wages, two things that are not prevalent in a lot of jobs today, but are required for an alternative to be a choice when a worker seeks employment.
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Matt raises a valid question when he says that "what if the person chose the more acceptable occupation? Would this be considered a free choice, or were they forced into something better because the other alternative was less acceptable?" This argument brings up the concept of what is acceptable? Also, just because it is acceptable to one person, does another person feel the same way? I agree with Matt. Each person's background is quite different. Therefore, options and feeling about jobs will vary across the nation and depending on the situation. To say that one job would be better than another is placing one's opinion above the person who making the decision. Also, I agree with Matt in his thought, would this person really be making a free choice? The social pressure of turning down a job at MTV to work at a fast food restaurant could result in public humiliation. Thus, because of the social situation, this person most likely does not have a free choice at all.
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