ichi : "It’s the usual story: do we want the services at a good price or do we want better pay but higher prices."
The second "we" and the first "we" are two different groups.
Customers (the Public) are encouraged ( = inculcated) into self-interested glee at paying the lowest price they can get (docile minion pacification), whereas in a fair world customers would pay the actual, externalities adjusted, market value price (unless subsidization by government was necessary for prevention of starvation/ mass social revolt),
and some workers treated as unskilled, lack of the right qualifications, low social status so pay them as little s possible, menial inconsequentials, should be paid their true market and civic worth.