As one of the people who’s typically ‘on the receiving end,’ that was exactly my point; kudos.
I don’t disagree there; I can only hope I live to see some sort of positive resolution at some point… though I won’t hold my breath.
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Was gonna say, I have spent years of my life producing a lot more than turning a crank for a lot less than minimum payback.
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“Fast food is just a stepping stone job. It’s not something you should raise a family on.”
“Wonderful. Kindly point me in the direction of the factory that pays well for semi-skilled labor.”
“Uh…those don’t exist here anymore.”
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Sure, society will cheer for the publicly paid for surgeries of innocent children who don’t pay taxes, just like it cheers for providing the exact same (emergency, or other medical) care for other vulnerable groups, such as the homeless, prison inmates, and mentally ill people.
Wait, is that suddenly far fewer people cheering (in our world, right now)? And won’t maybe those not so psyched people invest their energy in the opposite direction? Into - as I mused - initiatives like:
‘Sure, equal, public (free) care for everybody, except (certain groups they don’t like)’.
And will they make sure it becomes law, or at least common practice, in little to no time? Then you end up with a tiered system again.
People are selfish, in that they wish to care foremost for those ‘near’ to them as opposed to everybody, - first-come-first-serve - equally. At least that’s my experience about what can be expected in society, and what can’t.
You seem to be the one arguing everyone shouldn’t get access to health care, sport. At least own it.
Me, I’m fine with the idea that people I don’t like will get medical care just like I’m fine with people I don’t like getting to use public sidewalks or call the cops if they’re a victim of a crime.
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Have you forgotten that pretty much every developed country apart from the USA already does this?
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Many of us would be happy to pay for your healthcare, (please, Lord) education, and infrastructure, regardless of how we feel about you, if it meant we could have a socialist system to begin with. That’s what socialism is about.
ETA: edited for grammar and meaning
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And yet, in the U.S. people continuously argue against it, and have legally voted such things down.
Honestly, I’m already starting to forget what we’re even arguing about here. I’m all for universal health care, but am also saying that as soon as you put it in place, people - from the ground up, and also from the top down - will start to threaten the system again. And I just don’t think there can ever be true equality through public care.
Forever vigilant, never done, never perfect, never without privilege will it be, that kind of thing.
Has he forgotten that practically everyone here is an actual leftist and not some water-down centrist liberals?
Like, yeah we have a variety of ideas here but I’d say the vast majority here actually believe in human compassion even if a corporation is injured.
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“People” ≠ “Congress”.
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So what exactly are we supposed to take away from this? Sure, the system sucks, but heaven forbid we ever try to make it any better, because no matter what we do, somebody’s gonna get pissed off?
I reject that conclusion.
Many of our more treasured safety nets, like Medicare and Social Security, weren’t all that popular when they were first suggested. Yet once people saw them in action and experienced the benefits for themselves, those programs became popular. There’s no reason to think UBI, higher minimum wages, or other attempts to balance the playing field won’t be received in the same manner. These measures will prove themselves in time.
Yes, some selfish people will probably try to game the system, and others will wish to exclude their perceived enemies. There will always be a dark side to human nature. That doesn’t mean we should give in to it.
And no, we’re never going to find a perfect, permanent solution. That’s why we have to fight like hell, and keep fighting, to do the best we can and always find ways to improve, and do what’s right… even if it isn’t what’s popular.
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Exactly! Well said!
“Political rights do not exist because they have been legally set down on a piece of paper, but only when they have become the ingrown habit of a people, and when any attempt to impair them will meet with the violent resistance of the populace.” – Rudolph Rocker
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I always thought work is an effort to produce or accomplish something, so at the very least it should leave you with a sense of accomplishment. If it does not, I‘d call it a waste of time directed at lining somebody else’s pockets.
You mean same work at the same time of day with the same quality and the same productivity in the same company?
And when there is a shortage of people with that skill and new hires are more expensive you raise everyone’s wages?
Fairness has many often conflicting dimensions: we are all created equal, so we should earn the same, but also our time is of equal worth, so we should be paid the same per hour, I have more skill than you so I should be paid more, you are more productive, so you should be paid more, I am more diligent, that needs to be rewarded, you have a sickly wife and kids to feed, while I live alone in my own house and pay no rent, so I need just a little money.
I used to think that the fairest way is paying everyone the same wage, or at least the same hourly wage, from CEO to janitor.
Over the years I have learned that understanding people’s actual needs helps organizations identify a much quicker path towards fair compensation, i.e. compensation that is perceived fair by everyone involved.
I’ve never been paid with any consideration to my needs. Ever. How often does that happen?
Like, is that really a big thing? Or is it one of those things that happens to like, 15% of americans and they think it’s normal?
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No, it isn’t.
And I’m seriously concerned that you expect this to be the case.
But don’t you get it? We’re not supposed to like them, because they’re bipolar or they committed a crime, or because they’re homeless because they are bipolar or they committed a crime!
/s
How do you do fellow children
In other words, it’s hard so why bother.
Where’s that work ethic that working minimum wage is supposed to give you?
Only if by “watered down centrist liberals” you mean Bush Sr voters, or the soccer mom at your yoga studio who is a covert Trump supporter. Which, to be fair, you might. But even Mayo Pete (God rest his dear departed presidential campaign) isn’t against benefits for the homeless people he literally thinks don’t exist.
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If this device dispenses money at the same rate regardless of how fast or slow you crank the handle, it seems the artist’s message is that you should do as little work as possible to earn your paycheck.
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Equally crazy to believe that those without paychecks are not paying taxes. As a percentage of income, they probably pay more than most in sales taxes and such.
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