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I just stumbled across this wonderful quote from Groucho Marx, who usually tried to be funny, but on his death bed, he stripped the humor and offered a serious philosophy of life:
"Most of us try to compensate for our low intelligence with hard work."
As a moderate libertarian and as a Catholic, I do not see the OP's solution being something that is either socially nor morally reasonable. If we want to look at this in a completely materialist way, a society as such would quickly collapse into anarchy and genocide/totalitarianism, since complete darwinism dictates there can only be one or a few winners, with everyone else falling by the wayside.
What I think should be considered is the idea of putting the poor to work in either the fields or in menial labor in order to garner money. Things like SRO hotels for those who cannot afford an actual house/apartment.
The idea of capitalism is that it provides a niche for everyone. More growth means more crop pickers, street sweepers, janitors, cashiers, etc where the poor can thrive.
Most "poor" in America today are there by either choice or upbringing. Most are the product of generations of living on the welfare system, and feel they are entitled to receiving free housing, food, utilities, heath care, etc.
The Katrina refugees in 2005 were prime examples of this, with the majority still receiving government paid housing in varied parts of the country. I personally saw a nice Arlington, Texas apartment complex destroyed into a ghetto after only six months of the refugees living there. Garbage strewn in the parking lot, grafitti written on walls, windows broken out intentionally, many refugees drinking heavily at 9:00 a.m., and cars burglarized nightly.
Crime in the area increased by 300% since the refugees arrived. Most there in late 2005 are still there, still unemployed, and still living on government handouts. There is no excuse for this life style, other than pure ignorance and laziness. But these "poor" have cable, large screen HDTVs, money to buy beer, liquor, dope, and 20" chrome rims for their "rides," yet can't pay their rent, food or medical bills.
What I think should be considered is the idea of putting the poor to work in either the fields or in menial labor in order to garner money. Things like SRO hotels for those who cannot afford an actual house/apartment.
The idea of capitalism is that it provides a niche for everyone. More growth means more crop pickers, street sweepers, janitors, cashiers, etc where the poor can thrive.
Why do so many people start out by looking at WORK as the desired end (and not the means), and then need to adjust everything else to fit work?
Putting people to work does not garner money unless the work is economically productive. Sending an army of workers out to sweep streets or pick up leaves or dig holes and fill them back in does not generate any wealth, so where does the money come from to pay them?
The cost of paying people to do nothing is exactly the same as the cost of paying people to work at tasks that do not generate any wealth. In fact, it's cheaper, because you don't have to clothe and equip them and provide child care for their family and transport them to the job site where they do nothing that returns the cost.
You pay taxes. Your taxes go, in part, to support people whose labor is unnecessary. Would you feel better about your taxes being used digging holes in the ground and filling them back in? Or waging perpetual war, like in "1984"?
No, the idea of capitalism has nothing to do with niches. It is an experimental and theoretical means to provide well-being for everybody, and if it does not or cannot do that, then another way must be found. Capitalism is a means, which one hopes achieves a desired end. You cannot start out declaring that Capitalism and Work are the desired ends and then searching for ways to justify them.
For some other opinions about poverty in the US, read: "Working Poor:Invisible" by David Shipler and "One Nation, Underpriviledged" by Mark Robert Rank before you make too many assumptions.
Not everyone gets to do what they want, despite the claims of "freedom" and choice and the rights within the Constitution. Choices can be forced because there are NO other options.....
In my life, I have had to do many things I didn't want to do, to survive the moment. but I considered them all just stepping stones to get to where I wanted to be. It was worth it in my case.
OP: I'm sure you'll be saying the total opposite when you lose your job, you're starving and are struggling to survive.
When I was in that shape, I got up early, and stayed up late. I sold newspapers on the corner, I went door to door, asking for any work, but no hand outs, ever. I also cleaned filing station bathrooms. I raked yards, and removed debris from roofs and gutters. I would not quit, till I had a pocket full of change. And 35 years later, I'm prepared to do the same thing again if need be. I have no quit in me. but have had hard times fall on me. It defines who we are--get out and get some. You can do it.
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