Finland to experiment with basic income

[gkishot]

I understand your point, but historically that doesn't really happen. 100 years ago the most common job was to be a farmer. But eventually we accomplished the hard farming tasks traditionally done by hand with automated machines like tractors and combines. So what happened to all the farmers who had their manual labor replaced by machines? They got work in manufacturing jobs building better tractors and creating new machines, or they became mechanics who worked on all those machines. So in other words, when a manual job gets replaced by a machine, it really just creates a whole new industry of work and possibilities, and it frees up mankind to focus on creating something new. It's pretty exciting stuff in my opinion.

And once the machines become smarter than humans they wouldn't need us.

 

[Scataphagos]

The only other opinion is a redistribution of wealth from those who work hard to those who don't.

That's mostly what we have now.

 

[Scataphagos]

And once the machines become smarter than humans they wouldn't need us.

Machines will replace some jobs. People should be working towards having a job that cannot be replaced by machine... or at least less likely.

 

[gkishot]

Machines will replace some jobs. People should be working towards having a job that cannot be replaced by machine... or at least less likely.

This will continue for as long as humans can do jobs better than machines. That's my point.

 

[HappyTrader]

A Basic Living Wage will free the individual to either seek a job doing something they enjoy or somehow contributes to society (rather than waste away their life so they can feed themselves).

It also allows them to focus on improving their skills, or other educational or cultural pursuits.

It is not a *bad* thing in itself. Sadly, it may well be *mis-used* by people who choose that instead of working when suitable employment is available.

Perhaps with sufficient safeguards it could work.

But in a utopic society, no one would ever have to work to ensure they get their needs met, and can all contribute in a meaningful way for the betterment of society.

 

[gkishot]

A Basic Living Wage will free the individual to either seek a job doing something they enjoy or somehow contributes to society (rather than waste away their life so they can feed themselves).

It also allows them to focus on improving their skills, or other educational or cultural pursuits.

It is not a *bad* thing in itself. Sadly, it may well be *mis-used* by people who choose that instead of working when suitable employment is available.

Perhaps with sufficient safeguards it could work.

But in a utopic society, no one would ever have to work to ensure they get their needs met, and can all contribute in a meaningful way for the betterment of society.

Where will money come from if everybody is in pursuit of their favorite activities?

 

[Baron]

Where will money come from if everybody is in pursuit of their favorite activities?

You can't assume that just because somebody is doing what they enjoy that there's no money in it. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. Getting back to the example of farming, once we invented machines like tractors and combines, we freed up a lot of the manual labor that were previously slaves on plantations. Fast forward to today, and the very people that would have been working tirelessly on a farm a few hundred years ago now have the freedom to explore what they really enjoy, like playing professional competitive sports. And we gladly pay these talented and super-athletic individuals millions of dollars every year just to see them hit a home run, throw a ball through a hoop, or kick a field goal.

 

[kmiklas]

Stupidity of the highest order. "Basic income" will do nothing but encourage laziness and sloth. NOBODY DESERVES (nor should they feel entitled to) ANYTHING EXCEPT WHAT THEY EARN FOR THEMSELVES!

C'mon man, stop being such a tightwad. Give to the people...

 

[gkishot]

You can't assume that just because somebody is doing what they enjoy that there's no money in it. In fact, it can be quite the opposite. Getting back to the example of farming, once we invented machines like tractors and combines, we freed up a lot of the manual labor that were previously slaves on plantations. Fast forward to today, and the very people that would have been working tirelessly on a farm a few hundred years ago now have the freedom to explore what they really enjoy, like playing professional competitive sports. And we gladly pay these talented and super-athletic individuals millions of dollars every year just to see them hit a home run, throw a ball through a hoop, or kick a field goal.

Yes, but society didn't need to pay everybody basic income in order to get the opportunity to watch basket ball game. Hunger drives the progress. This is a sign of decadence.

 

[Scataphagos]

C'mon man, stop being such a tightwad. Give to the people...

Didn't say I don't "give to the people". I give plenty. (Forced via high income taxes.) It's just that they don't deserve it.