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I don't know if a universal "BASIC" income is something that will make people happy if that person can only afford the -basics-. There was a study done a few ye

I don't know if a universal "BASIC" income is something that will make people happy if that person can only afford the -basics-. There was a study done a few years ago that claimed happiness increased in tandem with salary up until ~$80,000(depends on where you live). Then anything above $80k saw a negligible increase in happiness. This article states that many people feel that their job is pointless and doesnt really contribute any great benefit to society. These people are therefore working only for the money, which, the article claims they may not need otherwise. I think many people who already work menial jobs that are threatened by automation lack a certain drive for self-improvment that would need to be a required aspect of their lives if they otherwise have an extra 25-30 hours a week. Would these menial workers improve other aspects of their lives or simply watch more Netflix? I think anti-depressant use in a 15-hour\UBI world will increase.

stuaxo 10y ago
Doing low paid work, for many hours will make it hard to be motivated. When you are tired and scraping by it's hard to find the energy for things like self improvement. When your concentrating on getting food on the table + getting enough sleep. The times I've had the most time for self improvement have been when there's been a combination of time off + money. I've found, after a job finishes (e.g. company folds), or just between contracts, you need a while to decompress. But then after a while you get a lot more energy for stuff. WRT programming projects - it takes mental effort, I can't do a huge amount of it outside of hours when I'm working 5 days a week. When I take a break for a month or two I have energy for any project I like.
amelius 10y ago
Perhaps people will need to work on spirituality (e.g. Buddhism, meditation), in order to appreciate the BI and be happy.
norea-armozel 10y ago
Not to be mean, but I use to be one of those menial workers (I've worked as a janitor, factor assembly, plastics, etc) and most folks were very much motivated but they weren't able to take aim at careers when they have children or relatives to care for. Also, not everything one may do for work includes what they truly aspire to do. Just because the work seems menial to you doesn't mean it's not a challenge for them. There's plenty of explanations but none of them fit with the narrative of listless proles.

stuaxo 10y ago

Doing low paid work, for many hours will make it hard to be motivated. When you are tired and scraping by it's hard to find the energy for things like self improvement. When your concentrating on getting food on the table + getting enough sleep. The times I've had the most time for self improvement have been when there's been a combination of time off + money. I've found, after a job finishes (e.g. company folds), or just between contracts, you need a while to decompress. But then after a while you get a lot more energy for stuff. WRT programming projects - it takes mental effort, I can't do a huge amount of it outside of hours when I'm working 5 days a week. When I take a break for a month or two I have energy for any project I like.

amelius 10y ago

Perhaps people will need to work on spirituality (e.g. Buddhism, meditation), in order to appreciate the BI and be happy.

norea-armozel 10y ago

Not to be mean, but I use to be one of those menial workers (I've worked as a janitor, factor assembly, plastics, etc) and most folks were very much motivated but they weren't able to take aim at careers when they have children or relatives to care for. Also, not everything one may do for work includes what they truly aspire to do. Just because the work seems menial to you doesn't mean it's not a challenge for them. There's plenty of explanations but none of them fit with the narrative of listless proles.