15 September 2018
Owners of Apple and Samsung “smart phones” can take pride in their contributions to the betterment of Congolese cobalt miners. The material properties of cobalt apparently make it a suitable heat sink for the energetic lithium batteries that many are now carrying. From our comfortable “First World” perspective of abundance, security, and opportunity we are readily appalled by the primitive work conditions and risks involved and we are quick to pity the struggling laborers in cobalt rich Kolwezi.
The (arguably) “well-meaning” left will campaign loudly and passionately for “fair trade,” “ethical sourcing,” and “environmental responsibility,” but they neglect their history. Every successful free market society is descended from earlier ages when things got cold and hungry a lot. Through hard arduous often dangerous work, free exchange, and capital accumulation, each society eventually achieved a level of affluence that allowed it to spend more on safety, leisure, health, and education.
Until then, people are going to go into the mines, and maybe even sell their safety equipment if they can get a good price for it. It often means the difference between eating or not. Clumsy attempts to “regulate” international markets, impose minimum wages, or otherwise restrict free association and free trade condemns millions to short and painful lives of penury and privation.
“Greedy capitalists” did not create child labor.
Hunger created child labor.
“Greedy capitalists” cure hunger.
These comments are sponsored by The Confederate Mint (purveyors of metallic securities in gold, silver, copper, and lead). For sample sheets of Metallic Certificates (total face value One Tenth Silver Dollar) send One Silver Dime plus a self-addressed stamped envelope; or Four United States Legal Tender Federal Reserve “Dollars” in scrip, check, or money order, to Greigh Area Associates, c/o Gene Greigh // 401 Rio Concho Drive, #105; San Angelo, Texas; 76903