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Discussions of workplace diversity try to answer the question "Should Alice or Bob get the job?" That doesn't sound like the right question to me, because one o
by cousin_it 11y ago
Discussions of workplace diversity try to answer the question "Should Alice or Bob get the job?" That doesn't sound like the right question to me, because one of them is still left without a job. Instead of 30%/70% unemployment, you've achieved 50%/50%. That's nice, but...
I think we should try to create a baseline of happiness that no one can ever fall beneath. Universal basic income might be a good step in that direction, though I don't expect it to solve all the problems.
- TeMPOraL 11y agoI agree with you that what you say should be the main goal, but I suppose it's also worth to redirect some spare energy to optimize the current state of affairs (as long as it doesn't go against the main goal you mentioned).
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- pc86 11y ago> Giving good jobs to everyone Whether they're qualified or not, right? Because there are not enough jobs for everyone, and most people are not qualified for most jobs.
- deleted 11y ago[deleted]
- JoeAltmaier 11y agoEveryone slaving away is not anybody's idea of Utopia. Once upon a time, we thought robots would take the yoke from our shoulders and leave us all more creative and happy. Automation is fast approaching something like that vision. But now any time we talk about universal income or other such programs, it turns instantly to make-work projects. How can we keep the slaves working? Because, if I work, everybody has to work.
- cousin_it 11y agoMaybe there's a bit of misunderstanding here. I'm a longtime supporter of universal basic income with no strings attached. But basic income or not, people with jobs would still have higher self esteem and would feel more valued by the community. So I'd vote for a universal job guarantee as well. I think people tend to exaggerate the problems that can be solved by their favorite idea, and discount other problems. A good utopia should address all of people's needs, not just the material ones. The need to be needed is a particularly tricky one to solve.
- JoeAltmaier 11y agoI'd be glad to give BI a try. I'll take that risk. I'm not so sure of the idea I'm more comfortable at some made-up job that somebody else thinks I need to be fulfilled. Don't imagine for a millisecond that the only way I feel needed is because of some bs job.
- pc86 11y agoI think you missed my point entirely. I'm not advocating for make-work at all (quite the opposite). I'm saying that 100% employment is a dream and not sustainable, and probably not even economically beneficial. There are more low-skill workers than there are low-skill jobs, and there are fewer high-skill workers than there are high-skill jobs.