3 ms·

New Zealand (and probably many other nations) provides a system similar to this where you either have a job and earn as much as you're able (based on negotiatin

by m4x 13y ago

New Zealand (and probably many other nations) provides a system similar to this where you either have a job and earn as much as you're able (based on negotiating skill and to some extent actual job skill) or you are unemployed and receive a benefit which is supposed to cover your basic living costs. Without defrauding the system, you are better off getting a job as it provides you with a better income. Despite this, there are still a significant number of people who would rather remain unemployed than contribute productively to society. Many of them defraud the system or engage in crime to boost their income. I think I would rather see the government guaranteeing a basic job rather than offering benefits for any length of time. Supporting somebody legitimately between jobs is fine. Somebody who hasn't worked in a year should be sent to a labour camp until they decide to find better employment.

unimpressive 13y ago
>Somebody who hasn't worked in a year should be sent to a labour camp until they decide to find better employment. Considering recent trends, now seems like the last time you would want to lock people into wage slavery. On top of that, in a situation like now where you have tons more hands than jobs to make use of them, this policy seems like it would only exasperate the situation in times of economic repression. This idea is literally considered the Bad Future(TM) in Marshall Brains Manna[0]. And I can't say I disagree. I don't want to live in a world where those homeless people I see on the street are rounded up and sedated somewhere. Especially if one day I might join them. Not to mention that this basically outlaws several kinds of professions. (Freelance artist, Consultant) [0]:http://www.marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm http://www.marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm
- m4x 13y ago
  Is asking people to contribute to society really comparable to the Bad Future? Having read your link, I would say it's more akin to rules 8 and 9 of the 4GC There's nothing wrong with being a freelancer, or deliberately homeless, or simply taking a break from work in order to pursue your own projects or goals. However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year or more) then I think it's fair for the government to say "from now you work for NZ, or relinquish your benefit". It's unreasonable to burden society just because you're lazy and unmotivated The ridiculous utopia portrayed in Manna would be nicer, of course, but we aren't there yet. Right now everything has a cost, including lazy beneficiaries, corrupt politicians and jaw-droppingly stupid government projects. I can't see any way to fix those problems but I am allowed to hope for a world where one day we can
  - unimpressive 13y ago
    >However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year or more) then I think it's fair for the government to say "from now you work for NZ, or relinquish your benefit". That's a little different, and more reasonable. And yes, I mainly linked that story for the Dystopia part.

by m4x 13y ago

unimpressive 13y ago

>Somebody who hasn't worked in a year should be sent to a labour camp until they decide to find better employment. Considering recent trends, now seems like the last time you would want to lock people into wage slavery. On top of that, in a situation like now where you have tons more hands than jobs to make use of them, this policy seems like it would only exasperate the situation in times of economic repression. This idea is literally considered the Bad Future(TM) in Marshall Brains Manna[0]. And I can't say I disagree. I don't want to live in a world where those homeless people I see on the street are rounded up and sedated somewhere. Especially if one day I might join them. Not to mention that this basically outlaws several kinds of professions. (Freelance artist, Consultant) [0]:http://www.marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm http://www.marshallbrain.com/manna1.htm

m4x 13y ago
Is asking people to contribute to society really comparable to the Bad Future? Having read your link, I would say it's more akin to rules 8 and 9 of the 4GC There's nothing wrong with being a freelancer, or deliberately homeless, or simply taking a break from work in order to pursue your own projects or goals. However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year or more) then I think it's fair for the government to say "from now you work for NZ, or relinquish your benefit". It's unreasonable to burden society just because you're lazy and unmotivated The ridiculous utopia portrayed in Manna would be nicer, of course, but we aren't there yet. Right now everything has a cost, including lazy beneficiaries, corrupt politicians and jaw-droppingly stupid government projects. I can't see any way to fix those problems but I am allowed to hope for a world where one day we can
- unimpressive 13y ago
  >However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year or more) then I think it's fair for the government to say "from now you work for NZ, or relinquish your benefit". That's a little different, and more reasonable. And yes, I mainly linked that story for the Dystopia part.