Strips

@ tlhintoq: The retail prices have hardly anything to do with work commitment- more with how big is the consumers market, what is produced locally and what not so it has to be imported, etc.
I think that good working conditions don´t hinder great performance but spark great performances. And I would say that social studies of the last two decades back up my opinion.

Mr. Adams, you've accurately described my life as a forensic accountant.

When I lived in Australia for 3 years I saw what I (at first) considered to be amazing work benefits:
30 days annual leave.
6 months paid "long service leave" if you stayed with a company for 10 years.
HIGH wages if you worked overtime.

Sounds great for the employee... but those costs have to get covered someplace, like it the retail cost of goods. $9/kilo for bananas for example. Nearly $5/gallon for gasoline. My $120k house in the USA would be a $500k house in Brisbane.

I also noticed a distinct lack of pride in workmanship in most areas. It didn't matter if the job was 99% done at 5pm. It was quitting time and that was that. No matter that an extra 10 minutes could of completed the job. The site would still be a wreck the next morning instead.

Funny fact: The Holden SS is imported by the USA and badged as the Pontiac G6. I can buy it cheaper in the USA than I can in Australia where it is MADE. That's just not right. (Holden is the Australia arm of GM)

I personally think this comic was more a commentary on our current economic situation than anything geopolitical. The simple fact is that when unemployment is high, and those that have jobs are in fear of loosing them the employer has all the power. People don't want to be unemployed. They don't ask for raises for fear of being let go. They do more work at home or off the clock so they continue to "shine" and be needed.