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The idea of just cutting all those social programs and handing out the cash instead seems like a huge vision for a new, freer, society. I really like that. OTO
by 1ris 12y ago
The idea of just cutting all those social programs and handing out the cash instead seems like a huge vision for a new, freer, society. I really like that.
OTOH especially the health sector does not work as a market, as demand is for health services for sick people is simple infinite (e.g. they pay every price).
For the rest, I agree.
- malchow 12y agoMilton Friedman was very supportive of a single, national, flat, 'basic income' type redistribution.
- refurb 12y agoNot to turn this into a basic income thread, but one concern I would have with it is, what do you do with people who take their $16K and spend it all on drugs or alcohol or gamble it away? Tell them "tough, that's all you get?" and let them die in the street? You'd still need social programs for those who can't/won't take on the responsibilities of daily living. I don't think many people would have the stomach for that.
- dllthomas 12y agoIf someone is given the resources they need, and cannot manage them effectively, then they have bigger problems than simple provision of more resources is likely to help with. They can hopefully get the help they need in some more hands-on charity, from friends or family, from mental health programs, or from some other program more targeted at addressing their issues. Which is to say, of course, that yes - some kind of further assistance is eventually necessary in some cases, but let's not drown those cases in people who simply need access to more resources.
- joshAg 12y agowell, don't give it to them all at once. pay everyone biweekely or twice a month or something similar. you'll still have idiots doing stupid shit, but less people spending their entire income on a Yaris in January with no thought of how they'll feed themselves in December.