Socialism

[sparr]

The current "economic crisis" has driven me to reevaluate some of my beliefs, and I thought I would share one of them...

I believe that the idea of "everyone must work" is rapidly becoming obsolete.  We have long since passed a point at which the majority of people [in developed countries] are employed basically making each other happier [supposedly], not actually producing anything.  If half of those people became unemployed, our levels of production, for internal use and export, would not be hurt at all.  There would still be just as much food as there is now, just as many cars being built, etc.  But we [the American population in general] are stuck in a rut of thinking that if there isn't enough work for you then you deserve to starve.  That cannot last forever, and economic slumps like the current one are only going to get worse as demand for the non-production portion of society waxes and wanes even more in the future.

I happen to think that people should not have to work to earn the necessities (food, shelter, clothing, education).  This requires a very unpopular level of taxation of those who do work; unpopular but not impossible (see Sweden, New Zealand, etc).  The alternative is a very unpleasant confrontation between the working class and the unemployed when unemployment reaches 50% or higher, and I think that is inevitable.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Comments

[major-kusunagi1.livejournal.com]

But we also live under the work ethic system that if you want money/cars/BIG screen TV/etc/etc, you MUST work. Now there is nothing wrong about going on welfare but if you are you are only entitled to drive the beat up, rusty, 86 Monte Carlo vs a 2008 hybrid Escalade. I am in firm agreement with this system. Not everyone can be Warren Buffet, we need janitors and yes bums too. I personally do not want someone living high on the hog and not do a blessed thing to better themselves. The only way I would be happy with this is if replicators from Star Trek were around. AA still firmly believe that a kid from the ghetto can still be president, but it takes work. Nothing is for free and it should not be for free. Its nice to get things for free but y'no I too would like a pony.

:{)

[sparr0.livejournal.com]

I agree whole-heartedly. In the present economy, an indigent person can be housed, fed, and respectably educated for well under $5k/yr. I am not advocating giving everyone a [current day equivalent] $100k/yr lifestyle. Just the necessities.