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The problem is whole I'd like to think they would, I think people will gradually get lazier as they get used to it. Most people do the minimum required now; wha
by mises 8y ago
The problem is whole I'd like to think they would, I think people will gradually get lazier as they get used to it. Most people do the minimum required now; what makes everyone think they will keep that same level of productivity arbitrarily when it's not the minimum liveable?
- SolaceQuantum 8y agoI'd suggest looking at retirement- one of the important facets of retirement is the encouragement to continue contributing to society once retired because it is always necessary to be productive in some way or form for the human condition as we understand it. It is psychologically damaging to not be constantly doing stuff that is at least mildly fulfilling in some way. If a sizeable portion or even a majority of people recieved UBI we would quickly learn as a population what's always been advised to our elderly.
- mises 8y agoHow do you propose to do this? We have a lot of trouble doing it with old people already.
- SolaceQuantum 8y agoDo we? I'm unaware of that, actually. I was under the impression it was widely known that retired people are the sizeable portion of those who volunteer for anything in particular, and there's the existing tropes of retired people getting into art and fitness, and community activities. Book clubs. Crochet/knitting clubs. Bingo. Dancing.
- mises 8y agoA sizeable portion, maybe, but certainly not all (and probably not even most). Do you think crocheting, knitting, bingo, and dancing are honestly good things to put people to do? Let alone pay them for?
- ams6110 8y agoExactly. Those are time killing activities to keep from staring out the window and losing your mind. Which is also a big problem for the elderly and unemployed.
- moorhosj 8y agoOr, we could view them as “happiness activities”. In labor economics it is called leisure and the goal of people is to optimize between income and leisure. I know lots of employed people who spend their days “staring out the window losing their mind”. It seems we have over optimized in the wrong direction (towards work and away from leisure).
- mises 8y ago"Happiness activities" are fine, but I'm not sure they should be subsidized by taxes.
- moorhosj 8y agoThey already are subsidized in plenty of places (sports stadiums and public parks for example). It raises a fundamental question about the government's role and it's goals. We tend focus on maximizing productivity and other countries focus more on maximizing health/happiness. Even the way Americans talk about education is through the lenses of creating more productive workers as opposed to something like creating more enriched citizens.
- SolaceQuantum 8y ago"Do you think crocheting, knitting, bingo, and dancing are honestly good things to put people to do?" You also ignored my first and more explained upon example, volunteering. Is there a reason for that?
- mises 8y agoVolunteering is one possibility. People are just going to replace their jobs with doing free work? If not, what else will they do? According to you, crocheting, knitting, bingo, and dancing.