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The US paid a lot more than the $1200, in the form of unemployment supplements. $600 a week at the beginning of the pandemic through July and then $300 a week
by maxerickson 6y ago
The US paid a lot more than the $1200, in the form of unemployment supplements.
$600 a week at the beginning of the pandemic through July and then $300 a week this year, in addition to a second $2000 payment that went out to more than furloughed or unemployed people.
- nielsbot 6y agoHow does it compare to France, Denmark and the UK though?
- maxerickson 6y agoI dunno, I just updated the first paragraph to make it more clear that I was responding to the $1200 (I replaced "that" with "the $1200").
- makomk 6y agoPretty sure it's much more generous than the UK for everyone except the well-off. In many cases the US managed to pay more than 100% of people's previous salaries in unemployment, structured to be most generous compared to their previous job for those with the least pay before, whereas furlough for those lucky enough to get it was capped at 75% and unemployment for those unlucky enough to lose their jobs entirely was barely boosted over the stingy standard payments. Unfortunately, trusted US publications like the New York Times mislead their readers about this for nakedly partisan reasons, just like they did with every other part of the US pandemic response and how it compared to the rest of the world.
- supernovae 6y agoThese numbers don't mean much on their own. Sure, if you live with mom and pop and you got laid off from a job and had a place to fall back onto, yippee If you live in pretty much any major city and you're the breadwinner then it doesn't cover rent/mortgage. We froze foreclosures, so there are estimated millions pending. Unemployment is still in pre-pandemic numbers - all though improving. I think our reliance on "job" to live is problematic when a virus doesn't care about the societal ramifications of a job. I think we should talk more broader UBI programs and talk about what countries did that worked... do a huge retrospective and make things better for the future.
- maxerickson 6y agoI don't think we need a UBI that makes it easy to live in a city where ~$3000 month ($2400 + normal unemployment) won't cover expenses including housing.
- supernovae 6y ago2400 a month is rent here in Austin - and not even expensive rent. Without income, those rentals will foreclose/be evicted. Are you saying future pandemic responses should imply much of society simply deserves to be destitute?
- maxerickson 6y agoUnable to afford $2400 month housing in an expensive city isn't the same thing as destitute. There's houses available in much of the country for $100,000 or less. I'm fine arguing that people can have the option to struggle paying high rent or move, we don't need to pay the high rent just because they prefer the place.
- HappySweeney 6y agoThose houses are $100k or less because the only jobs nearby don't pay enough to buy something more expensive.
- maxerickson 6y agoWhat does that matter if the house is in good condition and has a sensible amount of room for a family?
- JohnCohorn 6y ago> 2400 a month is rent here in Austin Just no, not unless you live in a luxury dwelling or location. Here’s an example place I used to live long ago. Centrally located, next to the major highways, and not unsafe. It’s old and not fancy, but under $1000 and your living expenses can be much lower than that with a roommate. https://www.livechevychase.com/floorplans https://www.livechevychase.com/floorplans