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Communism or Socialism could achieve what the OP is hinting at here, but I don't think the mixing of workers and non-workers in this 'basic income' set up would function properly.
Communism or Socialism could achieve what the OP is hinting at here, but I don't think the mixing of workers and non-workers in this 'basic income' set up would function properly.
Neither communist nor socialist theorist were/are proponents of an idle work force. Both communist and socialist economist would call for employing idle workers through state run employment programs. Programs for the maintaining a pool of surplus workers is purely the product of capitalist economist and social theorist. So despite conservative arguments to the contrary, putting the unemployed to work if through no other avenue as government jobs programs have always found their biggest opponents in the ranks of conservative politicians and trade unionist (yes there are extremely conservative unions).
ie: you will pay people more for not working, every time there is a price increase.
So who will generate the wealth here?
A. Wealth is not generated.
B. If by who will generate the income neccessary for the endless raises in basic income, that would come from taxes on the additional profiteers throughout the product chain.
The time is coming when we will enter a 'post-work' world economy. Advances in efficiency, AI, and automation are accelerating, and will do so even faster. In a world where a vast majority of people won't work simply because there is none, some sort of 'basic income' program will have to be implemented. Personally, I think the economies and governments of the not-so-distant future will be forced to move toward highly socialistic ones out of necessity. If very few are working, what else could be done to prevent complete anarchy?
This is exactly what Ive said a couple times.
Eventually, only a small percentage of the available workforce will be providing all of the production needed, with automation, computer programs, technology, etc etc. replacing people wholesale (not to mention I dont see the outsourcing problem ever going away).
So what then? When 75% of people have no way to work or make any money?
Not really "free". People would be given money to buy insurance, and a national insurance option, but they dont have to spend it on that. On the other hand, if they dont, then they receive no US paid healthcare. All these "you must provide emergency medical care" statutes would be removed from the books.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenneth-Kaunda
so if you cut funds from national medical insurance, isn't this going to harm your overall health system?
Does Aetna lose money? Anthem? Didnt think so. They actually gain money by charging more for premiums than they outpay in claims. This is exactly what I propose the national healthcare insurance works. So, at worst, all premiums will go back out in claims, but say, this year, claims dont go as high as premiums......that is actually a revenue source (actually, technically, its a negative expense, a refund if you will).
if people have no work , no reason to get out of bed - then what will they do?
How long will going for walks in the park etc.. be enough?
A walk in the park? Do you know how much bottled up creative and volunteer passion and talent we have currently slaving away in 9-5 jobs?
We would likely see great novels written, great music performed and written, great movies, new inventions, and monumental volunteer feats.
People are not just going to, in large part, kick cans down the road until they find mischief. Currently, very few people are in jail for committing crimes because they were bored, even in this time of huge unemployment. People are in school, volunteering, taking unpaid internships, freelancing.
There are currently societies around the world (and have been since the dawn of man) who are absolutely content on expelling just the effort to survive. Its amazing that within these societies, mass murder and chaos never seems to be what happens, even though the peoples had large amounts of leisure time.
A walk in the park? Do you know how much bottled up creative and volunteer passion and talent we have currently slaving away in 9-5 jobs?
We would likely see great novels written, great music performed and written, great movies, new inventions, and monumental volunteer feats.
People are not just going to, in large part, kick cans down the road until they find mischief. Currently, very few people are in jail for committing crimes because they were bored, even in this time of huge unemployment. People are in school, volunteering, taking unpaid internships, freelancing.
There are currently societies around the world (and have been since the dawn of man) who are absolutely content on expelling just the effort to survive. Its amazing that within these societies, mass murder and chaos never seems to be what happens, even though the peoples had large amounts of leisure time.
Yep If I had more time I would love to volunteer. How about the fact that people will have more time to spend with family and friends? That sounds like something that will make people happy.
Yep If I had more time I would love to volunteer. How about the fact that people will have more time to spend with family and friends? That sounds like something that will make people happy.
That as well.
I dont get this concept of if people arent working for the man, they clearly are going to turn to criminal activity and vice out of sheer "boredom".
Would this basic income be enough to cover basic living expenses? If so, too many people would be content with that and the country would go broke the first year it was implemented.
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