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> The poor people of today have it better than kings of old, but very few people hold that perspective. I agree. 600 years ago, the only things kings had more

by adwn 10y ago

> The poor people of today have it better than kings of old, but very few people hold that perspective. I agree. 600 years ago, the only things kings had more of than today's welfare recipients are power, servants, and estate. Just go to the supermarket in the winter and you'll find a bigger selection of fresh fruits and vegetables than they ever had. Go back to 1917 and the idea that every welfare recipient deserves not just food, clean water and shelter, but also warm water, electricity, a fridge, central heating, and his/her own room (not to mention a phone, a TV, and Internet access), would sound ridiculous. And yet, today all these are considered basic needs that a state has to satisfy for everyone – and rightly so, in my opinion. However, I don't think it's a given that the socially agreed-upon minimal standard of living will rise faster than the average standard of living will rise due to increased automation. But even if it only rises by the same factor, it would mean that there will always by a layer of society which is considered to be "poor".

coldtea 10y ago
>I agree. 600 years ago, the only things kings had more of than today's welfare recipients are power, servants, and estate. So the main thing that matters to humans as human beings? As opposed to mere animals who need shelter and food?
- adwn 10y ago
  > So the main thing that matters to humans as human beings? Speak for yourself. I'd rather have convenience, good medical care, and the Internet than the power to let 100 peasants bow down before me.
  - coldtea 10y ago
    If you're one of "today's welfare recipientss" (as is the question in this sub-thread) you'll have neither convenience and good medical care. And usually not much time or use for the internet either. And "power" is not about having "peasants bow", it's about having an impact, and being able to influence things.
    - adwn 10y ago
      > If you're one of "today's welfare recipientss" (as is the question in this sub-thread) you'll have neither convenience and good medical care. And usually not much time or use for the internet either. Look outside the US (to Germany, for example), and you'll see that this is not necessarily true.

by adwn 10y ago

coldtea 10y ago

>I agree. 600 years ago, the only things kings had more of than today's welfare recipients are power, servants, and estate. So the main thing that matters to humans as human beings? As opposed to mere animals who need shelter and food?

adwn 10y ago
> So the main thing that matters to humans as human beings? Speak for yourself. I'd rather have convenience, good medical care, and the Internet than the power to let 100 peasants bow down before me.
- coldtea 10y ago
  If you're one of "today's welfare recipientss" (as is the question in this sub-thread) you'll have neither convenience and good medical care. And usually not much time or use for the internet either. And "power" is not about having "peasants bow", it's about having an impact, and being able to influence things.
  - adwn 10y ago
    > If you're one of "today's welfare recipientss" (as is the question in this sub-thread) you'll have neither convenience and good medical care. And usually not much time or use for the internet either. Look outside the US (to Germany, for example), and you'll see that this is not necessarily true.