Sorry, may argument wasn't clear - it wasn't so much that the practices don't need to improve, but that the real problem is that people have to settle for this. It might be more cost effective and provide a better outcome for those involved if we focused on providing them with the skills and the knowledge that they could take advantage of better opportunities and turn these ones down.
I think everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, but I have strong fear about removing the bottom rungs of the ladder - sometimes the value that people provide is well below their cost and they need to get started.
But we're not talking about removing the bottom rung of the ladder, we're talking about fixing said bottom rung and making it stronger. It'll be gone for awhile while we're working on it, which will be hard for people. But it will be better for everyone once we've fixed it.
I think everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, but I have strong fear about removing the bottom rungs of the ladder - sometimes the value that people provide is well below their cost and they need to get started.