Aggregate unemployment will result in widespread chaos.

Jobs are the fundamental resolution to our global problems.

Failure to realize this simple point will doom us all to chaos and diminishing returns in any of our attempts to fix the economy.

When companies make micro-economic labor choices, viz., layoffs, etc. then it may stave off that particular company's demise. When many companies do so globally, then it aggregates to profound effects. This is the micro-economic decisions having macro-economic effects.

Keeping employment up is the best prophylactic against protests and social turmoil. Working people have no time to protest and worry about the precariousness of their economic position.

We're in for trouble on a global scale because out-sourcing of labor will not save companies when the market is full of the unemployed. The unemployed have no means to purchase even cheap goods and services.

We're now in a time where the global economy is a zero-sum game.

Working without proper pay to the point of death: Karoshi

The Washington Post has a story that should serve as a reminder to U.S. workers, but more specifically, U.S. companies.

The Japanese have a word for working too much, to the point of death:

Karoshi

When you examine the amount of work U.S. workers devote to their employers--many without additional pay--you see the extent of the problem.

Now that employees have Blackberries and other PDAs tethering them to the office, even while on "vacation," our nation is one where employers are getting free labor.

It's time to put the smack down on all the free work employers get.

The intangible threats to career prospects for not being "available" or "willing to show commitment" must stop.

People are working too much for too little and the hamster wheel won't stop unless we agree that people should be paid for all their work, even work that occurs out of the office or while on vacation.