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The cost would be partly offset by dismantling much of the welfare apparatus (Edit: as semanticist already pointed out here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id
by gruseom 16y ago
The cost would be partly offset by dismantling much of the welfare apparatus (Edit: as semanticist already pointed out here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1926049 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1926049). It wouldn't even be too surprising if the measure largely paid for itself in this manner, especially if you consider side-effects like health care and prisons. It would be interesting to see some reasonably objective numbers on this.
- watmough 16y agoAnother benefit, wages and living standards would rise, since there would be increased competition for workers. Increased wages likely would drive better education and training, leading to a German-style skilled workforce. In turn, a skilled workforce is much less likely to be arbitrarily fired, look at German unemployment during the slowdown of the last two years. For an analysis on one reason why the US is in such a mess, take a look at this article by Citi: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6674234/Citigroup-Oct-16-2005-Plutonomy-Report-Part-1 http://www.scribd.com/doc/6674234/Citigroup-Oct-16-2005-Plut...
- gruseom 16y agoWe'd probably get better art too!