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I think it may be due to some sort of "outcome compression". The life of working a bottom tier-job isn't materially better than a life of not working at all. O

by im3w1l 2y ago

I think it may be due to some sort of "outcome compression". The life of working a bottom tier-job isn't materially better than a life of not working at all. One solution I've been thinking of is that maybe there needs to be some kind of state-provided minimum life. Almost like opt in communism. If you opt in then you get an 8h/day job automatically. Doesn't matter if you don't have any skills at all. The job will be guaranteed safe and non-humiliating (no sex work and if you are a vegetarian you don't have to work as a butcher etc). In exchange you get enough food, clothes and shelter to provide for yourself and children (assuming two incomes), entertainment (exchangable for cash equivalent), pension, health insurance, upskill opportunities, and some money on top. If you have negative net worth when enterring the program, your loans will gradually decrease (this could be done as some combination of the state paying them off for you and the loan giver being stiffed). You can opt out at any time you want.

enchanted-gian 2y ago
something like universal basic work?
- Apocryphon 2y ago
  Or a federal jobs guarantee.
- im3w1l 2y ago
  That might be a more palatable name for it. But a key feature of my proposal is that you actually get the goods you need rather than a lump some of money that may or may not be enough to buy them.
sirianth 2y ago
into it.
badpun 2y ago
> I think it may be due to some sort of "outcome compression". The life of working a bottom tier-job isn't materially better than a life of not working at all. The Hikkikomoris in Japan are all sustained by their parents. There's actually a growing concern there about the first generation of Hikkikomoris who are getting into their 50s already and their parents are starting to die, leaving them with no life skills and no source of income.
fragmede 2y ago
opt-in communism is not the name I'd go with, but that's a lot more palatable than universal basic income. basic job guarantee? there's absolutely no shortage of work to be done, it's just a distribution problem, just like with food and money.

by im3w1l 2y ago

enchanted-gian 2y ago

something like universal basic work?

Apocryphon 2y ago
Or a federal jobs guarantee.
im3w1l 2y ago
That might be a more palatable name for it. But a key feature of my proposal is that you actually get the goods you need rather than a lump some of money that may or may not be enough to buy them.

sirianth 2y ago

into it.

badpun 2y ago

> I think it may be due to some sort of "outcome compression". The life of working a bottom tier-job isn't materially better than a life of not working at all. The Hikkikomoris in Japan are all sustained by their parents. There's actually a growing concern there about the first generation of Hikkikomoris who are getting into their 50s already and their parents are starting to die, leaving them with no life skills and no source of income.

fragmede 2y ago

opt-in communism is not the name I'd go with, but that's a lot more palatable than universal basic income. basic job guarantee? there's absolutely no shortage of work to be done, it's just a distribution problem, just like with food and money.