Labour Disputes and An Ageing Population

I believe that labour disputes, if unsettled and allowed to spiral out of control, can lead to undesirable consequences of unimaginable proportions. One such ramification would be that of an ageing society.

Sounds far-fetched? Let me explain.

Perhaps, the earliest recorded incident of a labour dispute can be found in the case of Pied Piper v. Town of Hamilin (12th century A.D. or something). No lawyers or judges were involved. The town had engaged him to help get rid of its rodent infestation. By playing a magical tune on his pipe, the Piper was able to lead ALL the rats to jump off the town's pier and drown in the sea. Thus, he had fulfilled his side of the bargain.

But the townspeople refused to pay him his dues. Bad move. A breach of contract.

What the Pied Piper did next was really unthinkable. He could have gone through mediation at the Hamilin Mediation Centre. He could have approached the Pipers' Union for help. He could have approached the Labour Commissioner for help, or even sued the town in court. Or he could have picketted and resort to violence like the bus drivers during the Hock Lee Bus Riots. But he didn't.

The disgruntled Pied Piper played a different tune on his magical pipe, and this caused all the town's children to be literally spellbound and some even say hypnotised by his music.

We don't really know how old these children were, but if we go by today's definition, they'd have been 15 years old or younger. But we do know that the town of Hamilin became really quiet and gloomy due to the absence of the children's presence, their laughter and sounds of play. Hence we have the first recorded instance of an ageing population as well.

The townspeople really should have paid him. Then again, the Pied Piper also resorted to extra-legal means to get back at them. I mean, what was he thinking? What's he gonna do with all the children anyway?

Okay, I really really need to get back to Psyche now.