That American exceptionalism is only describing the fact that America continues to have slaves when almost every other nation has banned it completely.
Some countries have only banned it on paper. Don’t ask how rich countries in the middle east get their buildings built, for example.
And then there’s always the loopholes that allow unscrupulous employers to pay employees less than minimum wage. Not quite slavery, but it’s pretty damn close.
For example: My country has a scheme whereby some unemployed people have been forced to take on work in order to qualify for, get this: their unemployment benefits. The employer won’t then take them on because then they’d have to pay them, and pay them minimum wage to boot, rather than get free workers from the government.
That American exceptionalism is only describing the fact that America continues to have slaves when almost every other nation has banned it completely.
Some countries have only banned it on paper. Don’t ask how rich countries in the middle east get their buildings built, for example.
And then there’s always the loopholes that allow unscrupulous employers to pay employees less than minimum wage. Not quite slavery, but it’s pretty damn close.
For example: My country has a scheme whereby some unemployed people have been forced to take on work in order to qualify for, get this: their unemployment benefits. The employer won’t then take them on because then they’d have to pay them, and pay them minimum wage to boot, rather than get free workers from the government.
Which is why I put the phrase “almost every other nation” in there.
Almost is not all.