honorable toil

The Alberton Papers, Vol. IV, #V
By Dick Darne 4-17-07
"I hear a lot of talk about a "living wage" these days," mused Johnny. "Just how would a "living wage" be defined."
"Well," replied Bill, "I busted my butt for too many years. Made good money, but figuring how hard it was, it should have been a lot more."
"Yes, but ever notice how many folks worked just as hard, if not harder at a lousy job for a whole lot less?" said Elder.
"I still remember the oath I took when I was sworn in at our Local Union. Part of it still stands out. ‘Extend a helping hand to all branches of honorable toil,’ said Todd. "Sometimes I’m almost ashamed of myself and my brothers. We secure the best wages and benefits for ourselves and never think about those who toil for a fraction of what we get."
"Let’s first think of the problem as not too much for us, but not enough for them," said Elder. "And let’s think about honorable toil. Toil as we know it is mostly stuff done that can’t be or won’t be done by the one needing it. Highly skilled workers command a good wage because just anybody is not able to do it."
"Lets not forget the time and effort in learning these skills," added Todd.
"That’s why doctors get more and specialists get even more," said Johnny.
"Now lets think about the toil of the ones that do jobs that no one will do,"
Said Elder. "These are the toils that keep the world running. The toils that enable the ones who do the toils that no one can do to command the better wages."
"I have noticed that if all the so called ‘non professional’ toilers at just about any school were to all cease their toil, all other operations would grind to a halt," said Bill.
"And if all the lowly bed pan toilers were to cease, would the doctors step up and empty them?" said Johnny.
"Heck no," replied Todd, "they’d just buck it down to the nurses"
"Which brings us to more questions,"said Elder. "All this is obviously honorable toil, but how about alleged professionals who will run a good company right into the ground, milk it like a cow, destroy lots of jobs with all the accompanying human misery and walk off with tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation?"
"I think that would be best described as ‘dishonorable toil’," answered Bill.
"Or ‘Captains of Industry’ according to the Wall Street Journal," added Todd. "By the way, where’s old Dick been lately."
"Off riding his bike, training for the big one. He’s been doing over thirty miles several times a week, but I heard he limped into Superior from Alberton, staggered into Rosies Café for nourishment and had to call in the ‘sag-wagon’ to come and get him," answered Johnny.
"Yeah, I saw his itinerary, first two days are fifty nine miles each and the next two are forty eight each. Starts tapering off after that. I heard the old fool is going to ride Missoula to Alberton and back next Saturday," added Bill.
"Since Dick’s off on his bike, I guess we’ll all have to remind everyone to keep cogitating and stay tuned," said Elder. "We’ll keep you posted."