I just read yesterday that the State of Florida has relaxed its child labor laws, to allow teenagers to work longer hours in general, and to work longer hours during the school day in particular.

Governor DeSantis's argument was that parents know best when it comes to children in the workplace. I think his reasoning would have shocked orignal labor-law campaigners who understood that parents can often not stand up to exploitative practices when they become a societal norm.

This might seem unconnected to your essay, but I believe corporate forces will do (and are doing) anything at their disposal to increase investor profit at the expense of societal good and individual happiness.

Even in nations like the United States where the economy is booming along quite nicely thank you, income disparity is increasing, the poor are becoming more poor, and youth are at the cutting edge of the ensuing misery.

Passing a law to "let" them work longer and harder is just one manifestation of the problem, I think.