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Yes, I don't know who in their right minds is thinking basic income will work out well for society based on the predilections of the masses. Most people do. no
by zxcvvcxz 10y ago
Yes, I don't know who in their right minds is thinking basic income will work out well for society based on the predilections of the masses.
Most people do. not. like. to. work. Period.
But work is good for society. Idle hands are the devil's tools after all, and where one finds high unemployment, they are almost certain to find crime, drugs, gangs, single mothers, and most everything else that reasonable people consider a step backwards in civilized society.
Now what's the other side of that coin? Young ambitious hackers that browse HN will have more leeway to easily start startups living in their parents' basements. That's a good thing, and honestly sounds very appealling even to me now (minus the parents and the basement though).
However, you have to do what is best for the most people, and while a few percent will benefit and be able to further contribute, the majority will flounder and sink into degeneracy.
That's the problem with utopian thinking. Reality and human nature always get in the way.
- zorpner 10y agowhere one finds high unemployment, they are almost certain to find crime, drugs, gangs, single mothers This is because of poverty, not idle hands.
- Animats 10y agoNope. Look at the history of big housing projects in the days of generous welfare payments. Food, clothing, shelter, and some spending money were provided. Huge crime rate.
- ZenoArrow 10y ago> "generous welfare payments" Welfare programs in the past may be relatively generous compared to today, but I'd be interested to know when this golden era of welfare payments was, which era did you have in mind? Also, it takes more than money alone to make people happy. It's possible to be financially comfortable but still live in a ugly, uninspiring place with very little that's enjoyable to do. I'd much rather be poor in an interesting/beautiful place like Venice than comfortably well off in a cultural wasteland.
- Animats 10y agohttp://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/13/magazine/four-generations-in-the-projects.html http://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/13/magazine/four-generations-...
- ZenoArrow 10y agoSo, to cut a long story short, you're pointing to the early 1960s as a point of generous welfare payments, yes? If so, what factors do you believe contributed to the gang culture and drug use outlined in that story? Do you believe decent welfare payments were the cause? An enabling factor? A coincidence?
- lastyearman 10y agoLook at Scandinavia. Generous welfare, not exactly known for high crime.