What if the basic necessities of life were free?

[Zaras]

You said that it makes people lazier the first time as if you knew it to be a fact...

Sometimes I'm not specific, okay?

Yeah, me neither.

[Nimzonia]

Most of the things you buy, cars, phones, computers, etc, are so you can function at your job. You need a phone so your boss can call you at home, you need a computer and Internet so that your boss can email you at home or so you can use access your company's network at home. If you don't need to have a job, suddenly you no longer need a cellphone or Internet. You have all the time in the world now, so you can just walk to get your food instead of drive and you don't need a car.

I don't know about most people, but my boss never contacts me outside of work hours and I don't do any work at home, yet I still have the internet for some reason.

[The Bilbos]

Creating a sence of intitlement is a very bad idea.

Delusional Republican talking points. Just what this thread needs.

How is that delusional? Giving away money to people who don't have to work for it creates a aura of "Why should I accually have to work for a living?" What do you think Occupy Wall Street Was all about? It was a load of incoherent libral talking points, but centered around money going from the rich to the poor via government. If you want to "spread the wealth", then do it via private non profits.

[Frisivisia]

SOAHULISM ERMAGERD

[Zaras]

Delusional Republican talking points. Just what this thread needs.

How is that delusional?

Re-read the rest of your post.

What do you think Occupy Wall Street Was all about?

The worsening inequality within the USA.

[Trotskylvania]

Jesus Christ kids, has capitalism rotted your brains so much that you don't understand what "basic necessity" means anymore? Seriously, what is wrong with this thread?

[Genivaria]

Then I'd live comfortably and go to school until I'm of age to get a job, at which point I decide I want an XBOX.
So I go look for work. Then I decide I like earning my own money so I decide to save up till I can afford some luxuries.

[Genivaria]

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

[Zaras]

Look for the bare necessities

A bear's necessities are different from a human's. They mainly revolve around hibernating, eating and murdering humans.

[Ethel mermania]

Who pays for the apartment, food and all the stuff that are free?

The government.

and where does the government get the money from?
taxes

the tax rate would have to be so high, it would cause a basic disincentive to work? why pay a 60% tax rate, when you get what you need to live on for free?

[Trotskylvania]

The government.

and where does the government get the money from?
taxes

the tax rate would have to be so high, it would cause a basic disincentive to work? why pay a 60% tax rate, when you get what you need to live on for free?

Because bare life is boring.

In the world of Republican talking points, people must be threatened with death to get them to work, but in the real world, people are much more industrious and ambitious.

[Ethel mermania]

and where does the government get the money from?
taxes

the tax rate would have to be so high, it would cause a basic disincentive to work? why pay a 60% tax rate, when you get what you need to live on for free?

Because bare life is boring.

In the world of Republican talking points, people must be threatened with death to get them to work, but in the real world, people are much more industrious and ambitious.

sitting on the beach, and surfing never gets old.

[Jinos]

There is an incentive to work: money.

That's not an incentive if everything is free. The money would have no value.

Basic necessities =/= everything.

[Trotskylvania]

Because bare life is boring.

In the world of Republican talking points, people must be threatened with death to get them to work, but in the real world, people are much more industrious and ambitious.

sitting on the beach, and surfing never gets old.

It does, and it also tends to cost money, especially the surfing part.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

That's not an incentive if everything is free. The money would have no value.

Basic necessities =/= everything.

He's since changed his argument.

[GCMG]

Not everything as everything, but as quite many things at least.

I came across a draft for an issue that had an option to give your citizens free basic necessities of life, such as food, water and housing. I tought: What if this was merged with the idea of a basic income? The answer was clear in my head, it wouldn't work. Everyone would just stop working. Really? Would everyone stop working? Would you like to live in a small stinky government funded "apartment" with dry bread and water? Even if the government would give you a little money every month, wouldn't you be jealous of the new car your neighbor just bought?

I know it doesn't work with everyone, some people are happy with little money, but that's not the point.

What do you think? Why wouldn't it work? Why/how would it work? If you have no explanations to what you say, please ski to a spruce.

How can a system where everyone buys their own homes and food work, whilst one where government funds them won't work? I'd like if someone explained me that.

Where does my thinking process take me?

These are large areas of expenditure.

Yeah, not a good thing. Maybe free housing. Free water, but not free water services is already a thing. No one owns the water.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

Jesus Christ kids, has capitalism rotted your brains so much that you don't understand what "basic necessity" means anymore? Seriously, what is wrong with this thread?

The OP has been edited beyond recognition.

[The Joseon Dynasty]

You cannot produce anything without labour. Labour needs an incentive to produce (namely, remuneration). Without that incentive, employment will be zero, and your economy will have nothing to provide.

So no, it wouldn't work.

Your right no human labored for anything until we invented money.

Where did I mention money?

[Ethel mermania]

sitting on the beach, and surfing never gets old.

It does, and it also tends to cost money, especially the surfing part.

not at all, the waves are free. i can get a decent used board for about 75 if i shop a bit. live in southern florida, and take the bus to the beach, your coverning my necissities, as per the OP.. i can even take in a roomate to half my rent and keep half the rent check your giving me. your gonna provide sunscreen out of medical, cause you dont want me to get skin cancer.

nah. we are good, i like my job, but 60+ points in taxes, when the state is covering, food, clothing, rent, and medical. surfs up.

[Sobaeg]

Note to Americans,

Many countries in the world have this kind of system, it works and people still work because they are needy (usually for things they want rather than need!).
Norway, Australia and New Zealand are three examples that will supply food, and medical money to spend for clothing, transport and utilities (and even then those prices are highly discounted), to have children and a house to live in (even a grant to own) and even as far as education.

Living standards and minimum wages and employment are all higher than the US!

[Sobaeg]

Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

[Zaras]

(Image)

The bear looks a bit too interested in the kid...

[Liriena]

Note to Americans,

Many countries in the world have this kind of system, it works and people still work because they are needy (usually for things they want rather than need!).
Norway, Australia and New Zealand are three examples that will supply food, and medical money to spend for clothing, transport and utilities (and even then those prices are highly discounted), to have children and a house to live in (even a grant to own) and even as far as education.

Living standards and minimum wages and employment are all higher than the US!

Seriously...people seem to forget that, first and foremost, we're talking about basic necessities being free, not EVERYTHING. And basic necessities are summed up in most human rights declarations: food, healthcare, housing, water, education...and that's pretty much it. And, if you think about it, there's really no reason why any of those should be particularly expensive for the state and, therefor, for the taxpayer, if implemented correctly.

Not to mention, it seems most right-wingers forget one basic principle of the science of economics: For each necessity that is supplied for, many new necessities arise. In a country where basic necessities are free, people would still work in order to earn the money to afford other not-so-basic needs that still improve their quality of life. Economy teaches us that necessities are infinite. People will always crave more, and the market will provide.

[Trotskylvania]

It does, and it also tends to cost money, especially the surfing part.

not at all, the waves are free. i can get a decent used board for about 75 if i shop a bit. live in southern florida, and take the bus to the beach, your coverning my necissities, as per the OP.. i can even take in a roomate to half my rent and keep half the rent check your giving me. your gonna provide sunscreen out of medical, cause you dont want me to get skin cancer.

nah. we are good, i like my job, but 60+ points in taxes, when the state is covering, food, clothing, rent, and medical. surfs up.

For one, they would likely provide you with goods in kind rather than money for rent, or pay the rent directly so that you couldn't scam the system. Where are you getting the money for the board then?

Besides, you would get bored within three days, and you'd be back to doing what you did before. This time, with the benefit that the Sword of Damocles isn't hanging over your head.

[Sobaeg]

Note to Americans,

Many countries in the world have this kind of system, it works and people still work because they are needy (usually for things they want rather than need!).
Norway, Australia and New Zealand are three examples that will supply food, and medical money to spend for clothing, transport and utilities (and even then those prices are highly discounted), to have children and a house to live in (even a grant to own) and even as far as education.

Living standards and minimum wages and employment are all higher than the US!

Seriously...people seem to forget that, first and foremost, we're talking about basic necessities being free, not EVERYTHING. And basic necessities are summed up in most human rights declarations: food, healthcare, housing, water, education...and that's pretty much it. And, if you think about it, there's really no reason why any of those should be particularly expensive for the state and, therefor, for the taxpayer, if implemented correctly.

Not to mention, it seems most right-wingers forget one basic principle of the science of economics: For each necessity that is supplied for, many new necessities arise. In a country where basic necessities are free, people would still work in order to earn the money to afford other not-so-basic needs that still improve their quality of life. Economy teaches us that necessities are infinite. People will always crave more, and the market will provide.

Yep, right on, the day people stop working is the day they stop wanting cars and computers…etc