Entitlement

I was listening to the radio today, and they were talking about the shut down of an automobile factory in Oshawa. Now, a couple of things struck me about this, the first of which that Matt had predicted the very recession that the United States is in about 2 years ago - based on the North American auto industry (specifically, GM) and what was happening.

The second thing, was that of the 2400 workers who are going to be out of a job - I feel badly for them, but what exactly is it that they want everyone else to do? Should GM continue to pay them, to do work that is not bringing in a revenue? Or should the government support these people, because it's "our responsibility as an advanced society"? What, precisely, are they arranging demonstrations for?

Let me ask those on this forum a question: if something suddenly happened to No Excuse and your location had to close down, would you expect Matt and Jeff to continue to pay your wages? Or the rest of us to pay you? If not, then why should this be the case in Oshawa?

I suppose my question is, to what degree are we, as a society (or, on a smaller scale, as employers) responsible for others, and at what point are the others responsible for themselves?

I have my own opinions - but as this blog is meant to encourage individual thought, instead I ask for your opinions first...