I’m trying really hard to be a good American these days. Sincerely. I really am.
It’s difficult. There’s a lot of pressure.
You’re really supposed to look out for number one now.
You do you.
Everyone else?
That’s their problem.
Stay focused on the prize.
It’s all about the economy.
It’s all about keeping your children and your cats safe.
It’s all about making sure America stays on top.
Doing whatever it takes to win.
You like to win, don’t ya?
Last weekend I was reading in the New York Times about migrant labor. Or, as a real New Yorker might say, last weekend I was reading in the paper about migrant labor.
There’s nothing new about the vital role of migrant labor in the American economy—particularly in agriculture. We Americans like our tomatoes perfectly round, devoid of any flavor and priced somewhere in the neighborhood of six for $2.99.
What I didn’t know was the role migrant labor plays in our online on-demand shopping world as well. One example that the article talked about was Alo Yoga. During the pandemic, it’s popularity suddenly exploded when Kendall Jenner posted a picture to her Instagram while wearing the brand’s high-waisted leggings.
Overnight, their business doubled.
When this happens to a company, they don’t have the resources to scale up as quickly as they need to. So, they hire staffing firms to help them fill the need for sometimes hundreds of additional workers at a company’s factories and warehouses overnight.
The article went on to describe the expected litany of abuses, safety violations and unfair labor practices that go along with this type of arrangement.
There were many.
But I didn’t care about that stuff because I’m trying to be a better American now.
I’m not a huge consumer of high-waisted yoga pants, so what do I care? Perhaps if Kendall Jenner were to popularize a new brand of table saw or orbital sander, I’d feel differently. I'd expect her lady saw priced reasonably and available for delivery in 24 - 48 hours.
I don’t care how. I don’t want to know how. I’m an American for fuck's sake.
I did however glean something else about the article.
I started to wonder how, as a freelance copywriter, I’m really that different than seasonal migrant labor.
A lot of my business comes from agencies that have recently won new pieces of business and can’t handle the work. I come in, and for no health insurance, retirement contributions or even the ability to take a paid day off—I smile and get to typin'!
Happily.
But here’s where things get sticky and it's been the secret to my success.
Since remote work has been the standard for the last several years, the vast majority of my clients have been in Miami, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles.
I live in Detroit.
And no matter where my client is, as long as I’m doing the work from home-sweet-home, I charge an hourly rate based on my cost of living here in Detroit.
There is absolutely no way that anyone with my level of experience who lives in a city like New York, San Francisco or even Austin could beat my day rate. They wouldn’t even get close. In New York, you’d wind up with a junior for what I charge. It’s obscene.
But it works for me because where I live it’s solid money. And me is the only American I care about. Are you any different?
Is it fair? Not to creatives who live in horribly expensive places. I’m making all of their bosses an offer they can’t refuse. Occasionally, I feel terrible about it.
But in these current market conditions it’s the only way I can survive because right now there simply aren’t a lot of jobs in Detroit. I wonder what it's like in El Salvador?
So how am I any different than someone who travels to the US for seasonal labor? Because I pay taxes? My taxes don't make yoga pants any cheaper. Only migrant labor can do that.
We want inexpensive tomatoes and cool yoga pants, but we don’t want to pay high prices. They’re willing to work for what we consider to be a pittance, but where they’re from it’s a windfall.
How am I any different?
I live someplace cheap with no jobs. They live someplace cheap with no jobs.
We’re both doing what we have to in order to survive. We're both taking advantage of the same circumstances. Everyone's gotta eat.
And yes, I’m aware of the massive moral, ethical and geo-political holes in this argument, but at the same time, I stand by it. In fact, I double down on it—which is totally super-American right now.
So, I'll ask you again.
How am I any different?
Thanks for reading. If you want to find out how incredibly affordable my day rate really is, then simply contact me for your next freelance writing assignment.
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