Mice don't play soccer, compose symphonies, do crosswords, watch TV, etc. In other words, we're considerably better filling our leisure time than they are.
(I'm 43. 'Kiddo' is slightly insulting and, dare I say, condescending.)
> Mice don't play soccer, compose symphonies, do crosswords, watch TV, etc. In other words, we're considerably better filling our leisure time than they are.
Yup, all those bored teens and violent criminals are going to be playing crossword puzzles and composing symphonies all day now that their rent is paid and bellies are full.
I gotta get out of this thread. I may be bitter and pessimistic about humans, but you people are beyond delusional if you think free money solves more social problems than it creates.
Edit: Don't forget that all those bored inner-city teens, who no longer have a reason to go to school (they're gonna get a lifetime of free money and free stuff, after all), now have zero education. We can't keep half of them in school today, what's going to make them stop in the free money future? And they're going to breed even dumber kids. A few generations of this and you have caused devolution and lost everything human civilization has worked to achieve. Bad, bad, bad. Collapse-worthy bad.
If basic income only provides enough to just get by - living in a crappy apartment, barely being able to afford basic groceries, and living paycheck to paycheck, do you really think everyone is just going to stop working and do nothing all day?
People are still going to want money for buying gadgets, going out, a better living space, cars, clothes, vacations, impressing girls, buying toys for their kids, etc.
Also I'd bet that a significant percentage of trust-fund babies work, and their trust funds generally provide them much more than a UBI would.
> do you really think everyone is just going to stop working and do nothing all day?
YES. That's exactly the point. Look at the welfare class currently collecting disability in American states like WV. They aren't doing anything productive!!! Maybe more drugs, though... sounds great for society. Let's expand that.
Will Everyone drop out of the workforce? Of course not. But a substantial portion that will become an ever-increasing, ever-breeding strain on society? I'm absolutely positive of it.
Well part of the reason for that is because of the Welfare Cliff and the fact that there just aren't enough jobs. Most people on welfare do not want to be on welfare.
We're ok with those who are born rich not having to work. Why should it be different for poor people? And if society can function perfectly fine without these people working, why does it matter if they don't work?
(I'm 43. 'Kiddo' is slightly insulting and, dare I say, condescending.)