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There is simply not a politically correct way to say it. Child labor is morally reprehensible. It is a despicable component of any country's economic model that needs to be immediately eradicated.

The United States economy was built on the backs of children for the first 150 years of its existence. Children were expected to work after the Civil War so the country could rebuild its war torn infrastructure. Companies exploited child labor and the government was behind in developing laws to protect the rights of children.

The abolition of child labor took root in 1904. But it took almost forty years for a rigid set of laws to be enacted that protects children by ending their labor exploitation. The Great Depression was a major factor in ending child labor. Adults were so desperate for work that they accepted jobs previously performed by children.

American child labors laws set a precedent for the rest of the industrialized world. Even though World War II demanded a full employment economy and there was a shortage of adult workers, the laws passed to protect children had enough teeth to prevent a relapse of children exploitation. Children were finally protected from harsh working conditions and cruel treatment.

We are now witnessing a second cycle of industrialized nations exploiting their children in the workforce. The list of child labor abusing countries is long, but the mainstays are the countries that provide a considerable amount of exported goods to countries that enjoy information age prosperity. China, Mexico, and India are the three of the biggest exporters to the United States. Child labor in these countries needs to be stopped and that can only happen if four conditions occur simultaneously.

Stringent laws need to be passed and enforced in the countries that exploit child labor. The model used to pass such laws should come from the sundry of laws passed in the United States. The laws should be unique to the specific economic climate of each country, but the statutes must unequivocally eradicate all child labor practices. Punishment may need to be harsher than current American law in order to force companies to comply with the new regulations.

Industrialized countries that rely on cheap child labor will have to make a painful transition of lost labor hours and productivity. The economic void is an opportunity for economically progressive countries to provide their expertise in addressing labor shortages. Moreover, helping industrialized countries eliminate

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