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Leviathan posted on Tue, Jan 12 2010 8:29 AM

How do I add one? Do you need a minimum post count?

The workmen desire to get as much, the master to give as little as possible...It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties must force the other into a compliance with their terms. -Adam Smith

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You can add one via your profile. Just edit your profile and you'll see.

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AJ replied on Tue, Jan 12 2010 8:42 AM

The sig should be editable by clicking: Community --> Edit Profile --> Site Options

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I know; it's just that the forum software reported that it was over 256 characters even when it wasn't.

The workmen desire to get as much, the master to give as little as possible...It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties must force the other into a compliance with their terms. -Adam Smith

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AJ replied on Tue, Jan 12 2010 8:51 AM

It does that to me, too. I don't know why.

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It seemed to be the font, as I placed the signature in (albeit edited, which I dismally expect will bring accusations of twisting) with normal font without problems.

The workmen desire to get as much, the master to give as little as possible...It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties must force the other into a compliance with their terms. -Adam Smith

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AJ replied on Tue, Jan 12 2010 8:59 AM

What's the full quote? From what you have now, I suspect the first issue that will be raised is that you could switch workmen and master without really affecting the truth of the sentence.

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AJ:

What's the full quote? From what you have now, I suspect the first issue that will be raised is that you could switch workmen and master without really affecting the truth of the sentence.

I'd say not, as he was speaking of wages specifically:

What are the common wages of labor, depends everywhere upon the contract usually made between those two parties, whose interests are by no means the same. The workmen desire to get as much, the masters to give as little as possible. The former are disposed to combine in order to raise, the latter in order to lower the wages of labor.

It is not, however, difficult to foresee which of the two parties must, upon all ordinary occasions, have the advantage in the dispute and force the other into a compliance with their terms.

I placed an extended version in my bio instead.

The workmen desire to get as much, the master to give as little as possible...It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties must force the other into a compliance with their terms. -Adam Smith

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You know, it's really cool that you are quoting 18th century fallacies like the 'iron law of wages'

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AJ replied on Tue, Jan 12 2010 9:12 AM

OK, I googled it. The next sentence from Smith is, "The masters, being fewer in number, can combine much more easily; and the law, besides, authorizes, or at least does not prohibit their combinations, while it prohibits those of the workmen."

I'm pretty sure that you won't encounter much support here for prohibiting workers from organizing. I think Rothbard, Mises, etc. were for unions as long as they had no special (additional) legal privileges.

It seems to me, in any case, that the workers desire to give as little labor as possible and the managers to give as little compensation as possible. Asking the manager why he doesn't pay more seems the same as asking the worker why he doesn't put in free overtime.

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Oh, that was certainly understood. It's merely that I believe that he'd express the same opposition to modern arrangements that just as effectively impede the development of workers' organization even if they don't receive direct and formal state sponsorship.

The workmen desire to get as much, the master to give as little as possible...It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties must force the other into a compliance with their terms. -Adam Smith

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You have to type the signature manually into the text field. Unfortunately, you can't simply copy and paste it into the text field.

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