2 ms·

Owners of capital think people aren't happy unless they are working making money, because capital owners are made happy by having money. It's hard for them to u

Owners of capital think people aren't happy unless they are working making money, because capital owners are made happy by having money. It's hard for them to understand that there are other, better sources of happiness. There are tons of examples of people forgoing money for something more satisfying.

teakettle42 5y ago
What’s hard to understand is why I should work even harder making money so that you don’t have to.
- labrador 5y ago
  No one says you have to work even harder. If you reduce your consumption and live according to your most basic needs, you can achieve a level of self-suffiency that allows you to actually support yourself with your hobbies. Live simply, plant a garden, buy your clothes at thrift stores and shop at discount grocery stores. What ever it takes to follow your passion. Live like a starving artist and make something great. But if you're just a worker drone with no inner life and need to be a corporate servant, I can understand your frustration.
  - teakettle42 5y ago
    I was replying in the context of implementing UBI, but to take the broader view: If I recall correctly, the per-capita share of the US budget individuals are responsible for, if we split it evenly between every US resident of age, is (very) roughly $10k a year. I currently pay above $100k/year in federal taxes; about 10x my share. How much does the person “following their passion” pay? Are you really self-sufficient if you rely almost entirely on the largesse of others to fund your society?
    - labrador 5y ago
      You're assuming that people following their passions add no value and such people are getting a free ride. Take roads: corporations need them to move their products around, workers need them to get to their jobs. Yes, I get to use them for free, but say I keep bees and harvest organic honey. It's not a money making business (say a net neutral), but people who work at corporations are happy I have produced organic honey for their enjoyment. Or I'm a muscician who likes to play at restaurants at night. I get paid the very little, just the cost of gas basically, but I enjoy it. Am I mooching off your 100K?

teakettle42 5y ago

What’s hard to understand is why I should work even harder making money so that you don’t have to.

labrador 5y ago
No one says you have to work even harder. If you reduce your consumption and live according to your most basic needs, you can achieve a level of self-suffiency that allows you to actually support yourself with your hobbies. Live simply, plant a garden, buy your clothes at thrift stores and shop at discount grocery stores. What ever it takes to follow your passion. Live like a starving artist and make something great. But if you're just a worker drone with no inner life and need to be a corporate servant, I can understand your frustration.
- teakettle42 5y ago
  I was replying in the context of implementing UBI, but to take the broader view: If I recall correctly, the per-capita share of the US budget individuals are responsible for, if we split it evenly between every US resident of age, is (very) roughly $10k a year. I currently pay above $100k/year in federal taxes; about 10x my share. How much does the person “following their passion” pay? Are you really self-sufficient if you rely almost entirely on the largesse of others to fund your society?
  - labrador 5y ago
    You're assuming that people following their passions add no value and such people are getting a free ride. Take roads: corporations need them to move their products around, workers need them to get to their jobs. Yes, I get to use them for free, but say I keep bees and harvest organic honey. It's not a money making business (say a net neutral), but people who work at corporations are happy I have produced organic honey for their enjoyment. Or I'm a muscician who likes to play at restaurants at night. I get paid the very little, just the cost of gas basically, but I enjoy it. Am I mooching off your 100K?