# Why has so much power/influence left labor and gone to capital, at least in the US

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-so-much-power-influence-left-labor-and-gone-to-capital-at-least-in-the-us/575656
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [March 22, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-so-much-power-influence-left-labor-and-gone-to-capital-at-least-in-the-us/575656 "2011-03-22T22:25:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 52

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2011, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-so-much-power-influence-left-labor-and-gone-to-capital-at-least-in-the-us/575656/52 "2011-03-25T03:49:42Z")

</div>

> [@emacknight](#):
>
> Here’s another example where you fail to understand risk.
> 
> A neurosurgeon invested time and capital going to school, and then years training. His earning potential doesn’t kick in until his late thirties.
> 
> The store owner had to get a lease, and invest capital to renovate the shop. They he/she had to invest capital in the form of inventory. There is a risk to that. If you buy too much what do you do with the left overs?
> 
> What does the cashier risk? He shows up every day and either sells a shirt or doesn’t. If the store fails he goes and works at another doing the identical job.
> 
> He invested nothing, we means he stands to lose nothing. He also misses the rewards.

Isn’t the cashier investing his time as much as the store owner or neurosurgeon? Why is their time worth something and the cashier’s isn’t?

---

_[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-has-so-much-power-influence-left-labor-and-gone-to-capital-at-least-in-the-us/575656)._