"capitalists are not justified in appropriating surplus value from workers for no matter how this appropriation is explained by capitalist economics, we find that inequality in wealth and power are the real reasons for this appropriation rather than some actual productive act on the part of capitalists, investors or landlords. Mainstream economic theories generally seek to justify the distribution of income and wealth rather than to understand it. They are parables about what should be rather than what is. We argue that any scientific analysis of the source of "surplus value" cannot help conclude that it is due, primarily, to inequalities of wealth and, consequently, inequalities of power on the market."

"Under chattel slavery and feudalism, exploitation was concrete and personalized in the producer's relationship with his master. The slave and peasant knew exactly who was screwing them. The modern worker, on the other hand, feels a painful pounding sensation, but has only a vague idea where it is coming from."

"The proprietor producing neither by his own labour nor by his implement, and receiving products in exchange for nothing, is either a parasite or a thief."

Oh and one last thing. I do not support capitalism and will fight to see it replaced but whilever I live in a world vastly dominated by capitalist/statist systems I will also do whatever I can to try and make life better for people and progress society and people in a more libertarian direction within the confines of the prevailing (I want to say paradigm but damn politicians have ruined that word) economic system. I can hardly do anything else can I? Capitalism is hard to escape from. Until the vast mass of people agree that capitalism is exploitative and unviable and decide to overthrow it, I just have to do the best I can to educate people and maybe make just a tiny bit of difference. My hopes arent high but I have to try.
I dont see any contradiction.

What is the unemployment figure before it is said to be full employment.

mikk
Sorry, appeal to absent authority doesn't do it for me. You need to prove your argument yourself.

"A vastly unequal and unfair world, wracked by crises and decay, an environment raped and pillaged to the point of no return, failing societies and backsliding civilisation."

That's not a proof, it's a rant. Your catalogue of woes fails to distinguish government's role in causing them; and still fails to say why employment is exploitative.

"I dont even need to back up my statements as the reality proves my point for me."

You are only proving my point: you assume in your premises what you are to prove in your conclusion.

Everything you said simply assumes that employment is exploitative, except for this bit: "inequality in wealth and power".

As for inequality in wealth and power, let us assume for a moment that there is no inequality in wealth and power. Right. Now how could any economic activity take place? Answer?

What is the answer mikk?

No-one could obtain any benefit from social co-operation because there's already no inequality of wealth.

So you're arguing that the only way employment could be *not* intrinsically exploitative, is in conditions in which human society has never existed, does not and could never exist.

Therefore your belief cannot be falsified, and is irrational.

You still have not answered why it is unfair for employers to employ people below the minimum wage, but it's okay for governments to do so. And spare us your hysterical hyberbole about starving hordes etc. Employment under capitalism has made people richer than they've ever been, to the extent that now you're simultaneously whinging about the planet being raped. So does capitalism make the masses poorer, or richer? Make up your mind!

I don't think people are better off on welfare. They're not just poorer, but it's miserable-making. There's loads of work they could do, for example, shopping, cooking, cleaning, child-minding, gardening, for the people who now have to work to support themselves *and* those on welfare. What would be unfair about that?

Your suggestions just won't work for obvious reasons.
I have the solution:- All workers are paid the same amount per day no matter what your profession. Nobody pays tax. GST on all goods and services. Costs would stabilize and commodities would be the same price around the country. Loans for housing at one set rate of interest. Free fuel paid as c/ltr to cover the cost of getting to your employment. All workers are equal, and the country would be much easier to manage.
You can't have welfare reform without starting at the top.
Paid parental leave, Child minding schools are another form of subsidized welfare, Wages are rising because the pool of unemployed is shrinking, that means more interest rates. It's a dog chasing its tail.
There for i vote for my new economy...

So a guy who does dangerous, dirty, hard work will get paid the same as one who does safe, comfortable, easy work?

Mikk, what is the point of closing Job Services?
Do you have in mind something that will replace it?

What if the casually employed person is working only one hour per week? Do they still get the rest of their payment for nothing because they are no longer unemployed, merely under employed?

Why do the unemployed have to waste their job seeking time looking for community work to justify their payment of welfare? Surely if the govt wants the welfare recipient to do community work, then the govt should make available the community work from which the job seeker can choose?

Do job seekers still get paid whilst they are wasting their job seeking time looking for community work?
How long do job seekers have to get community work?
Do job seekers get paid if they miss a day of community work due to illness?
What happens if they can't find community work or lack the interview skills to secure community work?
What happens if the job seeker decides not to do community work because of substance abuse or incapacity?
What happens if the job seeker has a reduced capacity to work but not long term disabled because their condition is not stable?
What happens if the job seeker is on a hospital wait list?
What happens if the job seeker is going through a family or personal crisis?