Throughout history, different species, humans included, have exploited themselves and others in the name of furthering one’s economic comforts or one’s survival. Parasites have fed upon other species and mutual partnerships have formed between different species for mutual benefit - for example, some birds and some mammals for feeding/ cleansing purposes.

For the purpose of this text it should be noted that exploitation refers to the phenomenon where one makes use of a third party entity to bring about benefit for the self through unacceptable coercion. Therefore the bond between a hunter and his dog might not be exploitative and yet the driving of a mule to pull a cart of logs might.

It is the way of the World. When a child is born the family teaches it how to be human. When the child is old enough it is sent to school and the education system teaches the person how to be a good worker. When the child is propelled from or drops out of the educational grinder it is no longer a child but an adult. The adult does what can be done to survive and progress in a life of toil, raising a family and perhaps also struggling against a 30-odd-year loan set against an attempt to acquire a relatively modest abode. Finally the adult grows old and is allowed to retire upon a meager pension.

It has always grated against my nature to hear of references to the working of longer hours, whether it be a direct increase in hours in the full-time working week or whether it be indirectly through overtime mechanisms.

Now it might come as a surprise to many, especially those to whom such seems a very good thing. After all, most of us would jump at the opportunity to work more and earn more, right? Well yes… but it is a well-to-do person indeed who would settle for such.