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Why not? California been trying to implement income based pricing for privately operated utilities like PG&E for years. It is already partially implemented for

Why not? California been trying to implement income based pricing for privately operated utilities like PG&E for years. It is already partially implemented for electricity. It seems to me like government programs is a poor delineation, as government can pass a law to extend its own scope. Why not groceries or clothes?

margalabargala 1y ago
> Why not groceries or clothes? Well, programs like TANF and SNAP exist, which I think are great and their greatest problems are they are not easy enough for people to make use of. So, fair point, when looking at the most impoverished among us I do not think we should stop at governmental services.
- s1artibartfast 1y ago
  TANF and SNAP are very different than what I am discussing. That are wealth transfers from general taxes to those in need. Very different than wanking into a public grocery store and seeing different prices based on your income.
  - margalabargala 1y ago
    Where I am, most grocery stores have two prices for items on the shelves. One "regular" price, and a second, lower price that only applies if one is paying with SNAP. Feels like we're splitting hairs a bit here.
    - s1artibartfast 1y ago
      Maybe, I have never seen such dual prices. Are they state mandated? I guess im still looking for some limiting principle. Why not just mandate that all goods are sold proportional to income.
      - esseph 1y ago
        What are you so afraid of?
        riehwvfbk 1y ago
        That taken to an extreme, this idea is the same as "from everyone according to their ability, to everyone according to their needs". Which sounds great, until you realize that this incentivizes needs and disincentivizes abilities.
        margalabargala 1y ago
        Which really is just a manifestation of "when a metric becomes a target, it ceases to be a useful metric". There are ways to disentangle the undesirable incentives. The Nordic countries in particular have done a great job of this.
        s1artibartfast 1y ago
        Inability to work and create for my own benefit and that of my family. Collectivization and theft of my labor value.

margalabargala 1y ago

> Why not groceries or clothes? Well, programs like TANF and SNAP exist, which I think are great and their greatest problems are they are not easy enough for people to make use of. So, fair point, when looking at the most impoverished among us I do not think we should stop at governmental services.

s1artibartfast 1y ago
TANF and SNAP are very different than what I am discussing. That are wealth transfers from general taxes to those in need. Very different than wanking into a public grocery store and seeing different prices based on your income.
- margalabargala 1y ago
  Where I am, most grocery stores have two prices for items on the shelves. One "regular" price, and a second, lower price that only applies if one is paying with SNAP. Feels like we're splitting hairs a bit here.
  - s1artibartfast 1y ago
    Maybe, I have never seen such dual prices. Are they state mandated? I guess im still looking for some limiting principle. Why not just mandate that all goods are sold proportional to income.
    - esseph 1y ago
      What are you so afraid of?
      - riehwvfbk 1y ago
        That taken to an extreme, this idea is the same as "from everyone according to their ability, to everyone according to their needs". Which sounds great, until you realize that this incentivizes needs and disincentivizes abilities.
        margalabargala 1y ago
        Which really is just a manifestation of "when a metric becomes a target, it ceases to be a useful metric". There are ways to disentangle the undesirable incentives. The Nordic countries in particular have done a great job of this.
      - s1artibartfast 1y ago
        Inability to work and create for my own benefit and that of my family. Collectivization and theft of my labor value.