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> I don't see why people with lower skillsets or utility curves that weigh leisure more highly than work activities should be allowed to leech off the productiv
by shuntress 3y ago
> I don't see why people with lower skillsets or utility curves that weigh leisure more highly than work activities should be allowed to leech off the productive capacities of others
First, this is an extremely toxic attitude.
Second, do you really think that people living paycheck-to-paycheck in jobs that are just barely tolerable enough to keep them from quitting are "maximizing their utility curve when compared to the opportunity costs"? Much more likely is they are stuck at a low local maxima because they can't afford to spend 2 weeks looking for a job that would better fit their skillset and preferred job functions.
- hellojesus 3y ago> Much more likely is they are stuck at a low local maxima because they can't afford to spend 2 weeks looking for a job that would better fit their skillset and preferred job functions. Yes, that is quite possible, and I believe my comment covered that possibility by constraining their poaition against the opportunity cost. In this case, the opportunity cost of working is not searching for another job. But if you can't afford food while searching for another job, obviously you should work. Hence! why I am a proponent of private charity. Under those same conditions, said person could go to their church, local org, etc. and see if anyone would be willing to assist them in a job search or while they did search. This solution is much preferable to me than involuntary theft of money from everyone to support a maybe chance of finding something else.
- shuntress 3y agoReorganizing the same systems under the control the church by dissolving the state is not an appropriate way to maintain a system of self-governance.
- hellojesus 3y agoNot everything has to be under a chrurch. It was just the classic example. Plus it's not the reorganization of the same systems. I propose a completely voluntary system. It is more economically efficient than thr state run system.
- shuntress 3y agoYes, of course! A system of voluntary cooperation! We can work together as a community to decide how we use our resources in the most economically efficient way! Obviously people are busy so we can't expect every single person to work directly on every single decision so probably the first thing we would need is a way to, lets say, "elect" specific individuals who can be entrusted to make decisions on everyone's behalf. Then those people can decide how much money we all contribute and how to spend that money in the most economically efficient way. You are right, this is such a good idea! Why aren't we already doing it that way ... ?
- hellojesus 3y agoVery cute, but there is actually a difference: the gov is only supposed to provide public goods. Voting either directly or through a representative still can lead to a scenario where the gov steals from some to give to others. Here is a real-life example: I live in the Portland metro. A couple of years ago, voters decided to vote to tax my income above a threshold to pay for preschool for people who have incomes below the threshold of taxation. This does not lead to increased economic efficiency. Every year I now have to pay $x dollars directly to other people's children under the threat of state violence. I would much rather put that money in my child's 529. Or use it to pay for my child's daycare! This isn't increased economic efficiency. It is literal theft.
- shuntress 3y ago> the gov is only supposed to provide public goods This is simply not how it works. "The Government" is just what it's called when The People work together to solve shared problems. Taxation is not theft just because you voted against it and lost. I wouldn't pretend to have enough information to determine exactly how efficient Portland's redistribution of wealth through taxes and schools is, but basic logic tells us that several moderately well educated people should likely be more efficient overall than several uneducated people plus one exceptionally well educated person.
- 3y ago