4 ms·

Benefits are much more generous and much easier to get in countries with much higher worker participation. And they have the same video games in other countries

Benefits are much more generous and much easier to get in countries with much higher worker participation. And they have the same video games in other countries too. And marriage does not cause entry in the workforce, participation in the workforce is what makes marriage partners more interested. Reduction in benefits has not and is no increasing work participation. There was not spike in worker participation in the 90s when massive "reform" was undertaken. There is no increased work force participation from the cut backs being done now or in recent years. Yet loosening of work safety regulations would certainly be expected to increase disabilities for manual laborers. So the best conclusion is that the supposed cheaters aren't. Also, if those not participating in the work force are merely enjoying life on theses supposed benefits, one would not expect the already high and ever increasing suicide rate in this sector. The author's ideology entails denying calls for higher wages by diverting what is clearly a demand/wage problem[1] into a culture war issue. [1] I'm guessing the author is a fan of Adam Smith where lack of participation is _always_ caused by under pricing. Apparently the author is willing to accept pretty thin evidence to drop Smith when that theory might benefit labor.

Spooky23 7y ago
Welfare reform was always bullshit. It was a compromise where the Democrats got some added benefits and changes, and the Republicans got the ability to cut off traditional welfare and transition people to Social Security Disability This pushed the costs off the states’ books and the federal budget, and made the costs a problem for social security. It backfired as it created a permanent underclass and drove up Medicaid utilization and costs.
- speedplane 7y ago
  > Welfare reform was always bullshit. ... This pushed the costs off the states’ books and the federal budget, and made the costs a problem for social security. It backfired as it created a permanent underclass and drove up Medicaid utilization and costs. I'm not entirely sure this is a bad result. Driving down welfare costs may indeed drive up medicaid costs, but this seems like a decent trade. Rather than giving people a check, give them health insurance and support for them to get their own job. Give people the minimum necessary to keep their dignity (basic housing, public education, foodstamps, basic healthcare), and if they want more give them opportunities to grab it.
  - Spooky23 7y ago
    I was unclear. A local administrative law judge makes a determination that you are "disabled", you are placed on SSDI and cannot work without losing it.
    - speedplane 7y ago
      > A local administrative law judge makes a determination that you are "disabled", you are placed on SSDI and cannot work without losing it. It's not easy to get SSDI, it requires many requests, hearings before judges, and lots of forms. However, I agree that once you get it, you're basically trapped within it. There's definitely room for improvement (e.g., if you have SSDI and a job, some progressively increasing percentage of your income is subtracted from your SSDI benefits).
jotakami 7y ago
> And marriage does not cause entry into the workforce You going to cite some evidence of this, or is it just a hot take? My hot take is that after getting married and having a child, the thought of losing my income was terrifying. Obviously we can theorize about causation in both directions, but I would put forth the argument that being married and/or having a family is the single most powerful inducement to maintain gainful employment for anyone, male or female. It might not cause entry into the workforce, but it sure as hell reduces exit from the workforce, which would have the same effect on statistics.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
snickerbockers 7y ago
>And marriage does not cause entry in the workforce, participation in the workforce is what makes marriage partners more interested. The key phrase being "more interested". You aren't guaranteed a wife just because you have a career. Participation in the workforce does not cause marriage to happen.
imtringued 7y ago
>And marriage does not cause entry in the workforce, participation in the workforce is what makes marriage partners more interested. Those two influence each other. Work improves chances of marriage? People will work more or better jobs.

Spooky23 7y ago

Welfare reform was always bullshit. It was a compromise where the Democrats got some added benefits and changes, and the Republicans got the ability to cut off traditional welfare and transition people to Social Security Disability This pushed the costs off the states’ books and the federal budget, and made the costs a problem for social security. It backfired as it created a permanent underclass and drove up Medicaid utilization and costs.

speedplane 7y ago
> Welfare reform was always bullshit. ... This pushed the costs off the states’ books and the federal budget, and made the costs a problem for social security. It backfired as it created a permanent underclass and drove up Medicaid utilization and costs. I'm not entirely sure this is a bad result. Driving down welfare costs may indeed drive up medicaid costs, but this seems like a decent trade. Rather than giving people a check, give them health insurance and support for them to get their own job. Give people the minimum necessary to keep their dignity (basic housing, public education, foodstamps, basic healthcare), and if they want more give them opportunities to grab it.
- Spooky23 7y ago
  I was unclear. A local administrative law judge makes a determination that you are "disabled", you are placed on SSDI and cannot work without losing it.
  - speedplane 7y ago
    > A local administrative law judge makes a determination that you are "disabled", you are placed on SSDI and cannot work without losing it. It's not easy to get SSDI, it requires many requests, hearings before judges, and lots of forms. However, I agree that once you get it, you're basically trapped within it. There's definitely room for improvement (e.g., if you have SSDI and a job, some progressively increasing percentage of your income is subtracted from your SSDI benefits).

jotakami 7y ago

> And marriage does not cause entry into the workforce You going to cite some evidence of this, or is it just a hot take? My hot take is that after getting married and having a child, the thought of losing my income was terrifying. Obviously we can theorize about causation in both directions, but I would put forth the argument that being married and/or having a family is the single most powerful inducement to maintain gainful employment for anyone, male or female. It might not cause entry into the workforce, but it sure as hell reduces exit from the workforce, which would have the same effect on statistics.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

snickerbockers 7y ago

>And marriage does not cause entry in the workforce, participation in the workforce is what makes marriage partners more interested. The key phrase being "more interested". You aren't guaranteed a wife just because you have a career. Participation in the workforce does not cause marriage to happen.

imtringued 7y ago

>And marriage does not cause entry in the workforce, participation in the workforce is what makes marriage partners more interested. Those two influence each other. Work improves chances of marriage? People will work more or better jobs.