“Worker-owned” Businesses

Some politicians have recently proposed ideas that would encourage or require more businesses to operate as “co-ops” or “worker-owned” businesses. In such businesses, the workers and the bosses get paid the same amount of money and have an equal say in the management of the business. 1) Do you believe that more businesses should be run in such a manner, as cooperatives in which the owner and employees make roughly the same amount of money? 2) What are the potential drawbacks to the owners of such an idea? What about drawbacks to the workers? 3) If you like the idea of “worker-owned” businesses, should the government require businesses to operate in such a manner? Why or why not? 4) Why do you think some politicians may want to pass laws that would require more businesses to become cooperatives?