Invest in Humanity

It all started because I had dinner. I am probably the least informed person on this planet about anything and everything, so this information came as a shock to me. Did you know that we have migrant workers? Of course, you did! Did you know that they follow the crops every few months, like nomads? Did you know that they have children who also move every few months, like nomads? Did you know they miss days and days of school? Did you know that they have to change schools regularly? Did you know that they fall behind other kids? And did you know that some children have terrible medical problems and need to be in constant need of attention and consistent medical care? And did you know that these medical issues are likely to have been caused by the heavy use of the pesticides on the farms that their parents are exposed to? And did you know, for instance, that PepsiCo's Tropicana product made $6.2 billion in revenue in 2011? And do you know what it's costing us, really costing us, to have a new generation of people continue to live in poverty, uninspired, struggling, ill, uneducated, and defeated?I do not know how to run a company. I only wonder about this: is it possible to take a little bit of the profit and establish a system where the working conditions and the plight of the migrant worker are taken a bit more seriously? Where the vision is long-term and broad rather than narrowly focused on simply increasing revenue? Is it possible? Is it possible to think about taking responsibility and ownership for the future of this earth and its inhabitants? How unreasonable is it to ask brilliant businessmen to invest a few more dollars in humanity? Don't they know it is the next generation that will take care of them on their deathbeds?I know that I am taking a stand off to the left of the political spectrum here. I also do not condemn the wealth in of itself. I am only questioning our values. When did it become ok to make money by exposing people to hazardous environments, by moving them around like cattle, by neglecting their children's education just to keep the high profit margins? There must be a point beyond which no amount of money will impact the quality of life, so why not give back a little more? Let's not stunt the growth of the little, defenseless creatures who have appeared on this earth. They need all the nurturing in the world, just like the seeds planted by their parents do.