5 ms·

I don’t think people have a right to a job. But I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone. When we can’t depend on the

I don’t think people have a right to a job. But I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone. When we can’t depend on the profits of individual’s labor to support them for life any more - which will increasingly be the case according to the current trajectory - something else must be done. This goes beyond the very real issues of wealth disparity and to a much more fundamental problem that comes with automation at these levels.

toomuchtodo 7y ago
We have a responsibility as a society to ensure that a framework exists (social safety nets, effective public policy) to allow someone to work towards finding purpose without starving or going homeless. If someone wants to cheat and call that a job guarantee, I’m fine with that. And in the long run, it’s cheaper than the alternative. It’s not just the moral thing to do, it’s compassionate and economically efficient.
- mjevans 7y ago
  I agree with everything except it being cheating. That's the government providing baseline competition (and non broken-window public works) to serve as something for private entities to beat.
  - toomuchtodo 7y ago
    I meant cheating in the sense of what you call it (which isn’t important).
CinchWrench 7y ago
>I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone. If you give people a floor like that, you have to keep them doped up enough to be content with it. Or engineer a more complacent human.
- travisjungroth 7y ago
  That’s like the opposite point of a baseline of care. You don’t give everyone enough to be content by default, but enough to get by and have a chance at earning more.
klyrs 7y ago
> I don’t think people have a right to a job. Pragmatic considerations may override your personal beliefs in this matter. American culture strongly ties self-worth to productivity. Take away folks' ability to meaningfully contribute to society, and they will cease to see themselves as a part of that society. On the other hand, we have a strong cultural identity surrounding gun ownership, and we're seeing rapid polarization in politics. So what's the natural consequence when your populace is bored, disenfranchised and heavily armed? Sounds like a powderkeg to me

toomuchtodo 7y ago

We have a responsibility as a society to ensure that a framework exists (social safety nets, effective public policy) to allow someone to work towards finding purpose without starving or going homeless. If someone wants to cheat and call that a job guarantee, I’m fine with that. And in the long run, it’s cheaper than the alternative. It’s not just the moral thing to do, it’s compassionate and economically efficient.

mjevans 7y ago
I agree with everything except it being cheating. That's the government providing baseline competition (and non broken-window public works) to serve as something for private entities to beat.
- toomuchtodo 7y ago
  I meant cheating in the sense of what you call it (which isn’t important).

CinchWrench 7y ago

>I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone. If you give people a floor like that, you have to keep them doped up enough to be content with it. Or engineer a more complacent human.

travisjungroth 7y ago
That’s like the opposite point of a baseline of care. You don’t give everyone enough to be content by default, but enough to get by and have a chance at earning more.

klyrs 7y ago

> I don’t think people have a right to a job. Pragmatic considerations may override your personal beliefs in this matter. American culture strongly ties self-worth to productivity. Take away folks' ability to meaningfully contribute to society, and they will cease to see themselves as a part of that society. On the other hand, we have a strong cultural identity surrounding gun ownership, and we're seeing rapid polarization in politics. So what's the natural consequence when your populace is bored, disenfranchised and heavily armed? Sounds like a powderkeg to me