What if the basic necessities of life were free?

[Zaras]

I would consider it reasonable to turn down an outing with your friends because you got called in to work.

But it's unreasonable to pretend that your entire life should be work and you should have no life outside of it.

On the other hand, I doubt your job would be pleased that you skipped out to go see a movie with your friends.

Who cares? Jobs have no feelings.

[Zaras]

And yes sending people to gulags to "liquefy" them is real politik or more exactly political realism...

Or more exactly, FUCKING MURDER.

You still own me a psychological assessment...

You're a lickspittle for dictators. That's about it.

[CTALNH]

And yes sending people to gulags to "liquefy" them is real politik or more exactly political realism...

Or more exactly, FUCKING MURDER.

You still own me a psychological assessment...

You're a lickspittle for dictators. That's about it.

Buhuhu cry me a river.....Find a better way for making the people that disagree with us to vanish and I will think about changing my ways....

[Zaras]

Find a better way for making the people that disagree with us to vanish

Shut up, Hippostania!

[CTALNH]

Find a better way for making the people that disagree with us to vanish

Shut up, Hippostania!

Who?

[Raeyh]

On the other hand, I doubt your job would be pleased that you skipped out to go see a movie with your friends.

Who cares? Jobs have no feelings.

They can fire people who don't show up at work, though.

[Czechanada]

I would consider it reasonable to turn down an outing with your friends because you got called in to work.

But it's unreasonable to pretend that your entire life should be work and you should have no life outside of it.

On the other hand, I doubt your job would be pleased that you skipped out to go see a movie with your friends.

Who cares? Jobs have no feelings.

That's right; Steve Jobs had no feelings.

[Zaras]

Who cares? Jobs have no feelings.

They can fire people who don't show up at work, though.

That's not the point I'm making. I thought that was pretty clear that I'm against thinking the whole "you should have no life outside of work" you seem to believe.

[The Bilbos]

Who cares? Jobs have no feelings.

They can fire people who don't show up at work, though.

I think most bosses can understand when you take a day of to enjoy life. Although I am referring to a small business, not a big corporation.

[Zaras]

They can fire people who don't show up at work, though.

I think most bosses can understand when you take a day of to enjoy life. Although I am referring to a small business, not a big corporation.

And I don't have much regard for people who demand you work overtime without pay and generally treat you like a cultist to be indoctrinated instead of a human who works and has a life.

[Caninope]

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!

And there are many countries with this system where the standard of living is lower than the US.

The standard of living is much better determined by the implementation of the system than by the system itself.

[Caninope]

It's certainly not the scandalously, outrageously low 35% on the top income bracket we have now.

And a concerted effort should be put toward determining whether 35% is an inefficient tax rate (which it probably is), and by what extent (within each income bracket) it should be shifted in order to maximise revenue.

That's a logical argument for increasing taxes.

Another logical argument for increasing taxes (although one not particularly applicable to today's situation) would be to close an expansionary gap.

[Caninope]

If manual labor were mechanized and automated would it even be possible for the now unemployed manual laborers to find new work?
Or....what? What would happen?

If reapers were mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for the now unemployed farmers to find new work?

If counting systems were mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for all the now unemployed accountants and clerks to find new work?

If transportation was mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for the now unemployed carriage drivers to find new work?

Really, that's a silly question. It might take a while, but the economy would adapt.

[Genivaria]

If manual labor were mechanized and automated would it even be possible for the now unemployed manual laborers to find new work?
Or....what? What would happen?

If reapers were mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for the now unemployed farmers to find new work?

If counting systems were mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for all the now unemployed accountants and clerks to find new work?

If transportation was mechanized and automated, would it even be possible for the now unemployed carriage drivers to find new work?

Really, that's a silly question. It might take a while, but the economy would adapt.

A good point made.

[Vetalia]

For starters, unless it's created ex nihilo via magic it isn't free; just because the government gives it to you doesn't mean it's free, someone else had to pay for it. Odd that people could ever think of something given to them by government as "free"...

I don't work because I need it to cover the basic necessities of life, I work because I enjoy my job and also that it gives me the money to buy the luxuries I want. Hell, even if I got money to cover all the things I want I'd still do it because I love working as an accountant...that's my passion and an area of endless interest for me.

The basic necessities of life are enough shelter to keep me from dying in the winter and enough food, clothing and water to keep me from starving/developing malnutrition. As I have no desire to live in a cramped, cold shelter wearing crappy clothing and eating vitamin-enriched gruel, I would definitely keep working. Anything beyond the bare minimum to keep you alive isn't a necessity, and that's a pretty grim state of affairs. The government is free to cut me a check for these, but I certainly wouldn't want to live at that level.

[Vetalia]

I think most bosses can understand when you take a day of to enjoy life. Although I am referring to a small business, not a big corporation.

As long as you let them know in advance pretty much any business will let you take time off, provided it isn't excessive.

[Unidox]

I think most bosses can understand when you take a day of to enjoy life. Although I am referring to a small business, not a big corporation.

As long as you let them know in advance pretty much any business will let you take time off, provided it isn't excessive.

Or, on a big holiday. Oh, how they frown at that.