Labor Endgame

[Sinfix_15]

It is survival and human desire that create the need to work. Whether or not we use money as a representation of that is not relevant to my question.

Survival and desire existed long before american currency. Can i not live and fulfill my desires outside of the economic system?

I currently own land, can i go live on it, grow my own food and stay on my own property without being bothered?

[David88vert]

I currently own land, can i go live on it, grow my own food and stay on my own property without being bothered?

Only until the robots get there.....

[bu villain]

Survival and desire existed long before american currency. Can i not live and fulfill my desires outside of the economic system?

I currently own land, can i go live on it, grow my own food and stay on my own property without being bothered?

Why are you talking about money? I never mentioned it. Yes you can go live on your own land but you have to own land first possibly by working for it and growing your own food requires labor.

Actually, the plan is fully sustainable and working today. The reason that it is sustainable is because the vast majority are willing to work to improve their lives, rather than sit in a prison cell, or live in the ghetto just surviving. In this country, no one is forced to work to survive. The basics of survival are provided by the people currently. If you are hungry, you can go to a soup kitchen. If you need shelter, there are shelters all over the country.

Your argument for a world without work being necessary is one that was presented by 19th century utopians - a society rich enough that fewer and fewer people need to work — a society where leisure becomes universally accessible, where part-time jobs replace the regimented work week, and where living standards keep rising even though more people have left the work force altogether.
Oh wait - that is what is happening now in today's society.
What we see here and now is a continuing decline in blue collar work. Americans dropping out of the work force are not destitute: they’re receiving disability payments and food stamps, living with relatives, finding work here and there, and often doing as well as they might with a low wage job. By historical standards, they live a more comfortable life than the Democrats want to admit.
Right now, we have a country that requires almost no work to survive already.

Like you said though, this is only sustainable because so many people choose to work. I am positing a scenario in which no human needs to work for the system to be sustainable. It is indeed that utopian ideal I am talking about but my question isn't can we achieve this? My question is whether or not you would like to achieve this.

[David88vert]

Yes you can, but that is not the question. Obviously such a plan is not sustainable. I'm imagining a scenario (admittedly unrealistic) where no one is forced to work without worrying about their survival because the basics of survival are provided without human labor.

Actually, the plan is fully sustainable and working today. The reason that it is sustainable is because the vast majority are willing to work to improve their lives, rather than sit in a prison cell, or live in the ghetto just surviving. In this country, no one is forced to work to survive. The basics of survival are provided by the people currently. If you are hungry, you can go to a soup kitchen. If you need shelter, there are shelters all over the country.

Your argument for a world without work being necessary is one that was presented by 19th century utopians - a society rich enough that fewer and fewer people need to work — a society where leisure becomes universally accessible, where part-time jobs replace the regimented work week, and where living standards keep rising even though more people have left the work force altogether.
Oh wait - that is what is happening now in today's society.
What we see here and now is a continuing decline in blue collar work. Americans dropping out of the work force are not destitute: they’re receiving disability payments and food stamps, living with relatives, finding work here and there, and often doing as well as they might with a low wage job. By historical standards, they live a more comfortable life than the Democrats want to admit.
Right now, we have a country that requires almost no work to survive already.

[Vteckidd]

Asks yes or no question.......says its not a yes or no question.
Legit as fuck

[Sinfix_15]

Food, water and shelter was provided..... just sayin....

[David88vert]

Food, water and shelter was provided..... just sayin....

But they had to work for it. Disallowed for this discussion.

[bu villain]

Asks yes or no question.......says its not a yes or no question.

Is work good in and of itself or is it just a necessity with no moral implication?

It is not a yes/no question. Perhaps you are confused on what the question is. Please read again and answer. Notice the "OR" in there.

Good and bad are subjective, they are not simple yes and no answers.

Exactly, that's why I want everyone's subjective opinion.

If you are a lazy person receiving benefits for free, you will think it is a good or great thing to not work.
If you are the one paying for others to not have to work, you probably won't think it is a good thing, as they are getting a free ride on your dime.
Perspective changes subjective opinions, and nothing in life is free. What one person gets for free, another has to pay for.

The whole purpose of my scenario is that everyone is getting a free ride on the basics. No one is paying for anyone else. Work is only required if you want more than the basics.

If your utopia only has food, water, and shelter provided, then prison is even better than utopia, as it gives you indoor plumbing and cable tv for free also.

Don't you think the inability to leave your very small room except when someone else allows you, lack of privacy, threat of rape/beating, and inability to spend much time with family/loved ones is a pretty big down side?

[Sinfix_15]

The whole purpose of my scenario is that everyone is getting a free ride on the basics. No one is paying for anyone else. Work is only required if you want more than the basics.

This is where your logic is flawed. *everyone* cant get a free ride on the basics..... everything the government gives to one person, they take from another. Could welfare exist if 99% of the US needed welfare?

[David88vert]

The whole purpose of my scenario is that everyone is getting a free ride on the basics. No one is paying for anyone else. Work is only required if you want more than the basics.
Don't you think the inability to leave your very small room except when someone else allows you, lack of privacy, threat of rape/beating, and inability to spend much time with family/loved ones is a pretty big down side?

Since "THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL LIFE SCENARIO, IT IS FOR PHILOSOPHIC PURPOSES ONLY." then perhaps you can pretend that prison isn't a "pretty big down side" for those that choose not to work. It's as reasonable and rational as your "get everything for free, and not have to work" scenario. If you can't understand that everything is a transaction, then you already are starting with a handicap.

The reality is that you want to us to consider an illogical scenario and then discuss it with logic and reason. Perhaps if you started with a scenario that fit into a logical mold this could be accomplished - until then, it's all just pipe dreams and an unproductive discussion.

[bu villain]

Since "THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL LIFE SCENARIO, IT IS FOR PHILOSOPHIC PURPOSES ONLY." then perhaps you can pretend that prison isn't a "pretty big down side" for those that choose not to work. It's as reasonable and rational as your "get everything for free, and not have to work" scenario. If you can't understand that everything is a transaction, then you already are starting with a handicap.

Sure I could pretend that, and I will if you want to start a thread with such a condition. But this is my thread so I am setting the parameters. If you aren't interested in discussing within the provided boundaries, that's fine. You don't have to respond. Like I said to Vteck, I don't see how the lack of reason and rationality prevents us from having a conversation about what to do with a third arm. I don't see why reason and rationality are any more prerequisite for my questions.

The reality is that you want to us to consider an illogical scenario and then discuss it with logic and reason.

Yes that's right!

Perhaps if you started with a scenario that fit into a logical mold this could be accomplished - until then, it's all just pipe dreams and an unproductive discussion.

If logical discussion within illogical boundaries could not be accomplished, we wouldn't have myths, fantasy, science fiction, or a large portion of our popular culture.

[.blank cd]

It is not a yes/no question. Perhaps you are confused on what the question is. Please read again and answer. Notice the "OR" in there.



Exactly, that's why I want everyone's subjective opinion.



The whole purpose of my scenario is that everyone is getting a free ride on the basics. No one is paying for anyone else. Work is only required if you want more than the basics.



Don't you think the inability to leave your very small room except when someone else allows you, lack of privacy, threat of rape/beating, and inability to spend much time with family/loved ones is a pretty big down side?

I know this is frustrating. Lol. I promise, I understand exactly what you're trying to say.

[bu villain]

This is where your logic is flawed. *everyone* cant get a free ride on the basics..... everything the government gives to one person, they take from another. Could welfare exist if 99% of the US needed welfare?

THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL LIFE SCENARIO, IT IS FOR PHILOSOPHIC PURPOSES ONLY. Who said anything about the government anyways? I said robots but it could be a race of aliens who provides us with everything we need for survival. It doesn't matter. The whole point of this is to get your feelings on a scenario where 100% of the people were given welfare and your personal morality/ethics surrounding work/productivity.

I know this is frustrating. Lol. I promise, I understand exactly what you're trying to say.

I'm glad someone gets it. Thanks. Care to chime in with your thoughts?

[Sinfix_15]

THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL LIFE SCENARIO, IT IS FOR PHILOSOPHIC PURPOSES ONLY. Who said anything about the government anyways? I said robots but it could be a race of aliens who provides us with everything we need for survival. It doesn't matter. The whole point of this is to get your feelings on a scenario where 100% of the people were given welfare and your personal morality/ethics surrounding work/productivity.



I'm glad someone gets it. Thanks. Care to chime in with your thoughts?

This is the problem with almost every liberal ideology. Theyre all philosophical and do not work in real life. Thank you for finally admitting the error of your ways.

[.blank cd]

I'm glad someone gets it. Thanks. Care to chime in with your thoughts?

I will. I'm at work and don't have the time to post a long answer yet. I kinda wanted to see where this thread went too. Lol.

This is the problem with almost every liberal ideology. Theyre all philosophical and do not work in real life. Thank you for finally admitting the error of your ways.

Thanks for admitting this.

[Vteckidd]

So your question is , if humans didnt need to work to survive, should they work?

Well i guess not. Although since the dawn of time, labor has always been traded in some means or form to acquire goods and services. Labor could also be called utility.

My point is i do not think your scenario is possible, so there is no logical answer to a question that you ask that has no way to be answered.

[bu villain]

This is the problem with almost every liberal ideology. Theyre all philosophical and do not work in real life. Thank you for finally admitting the error of your ways.

This is not liberal ideology, it's a philosophical question.

So your question is , if humans didnt need to work to survive, should they work?

Well i guess not.

You got it! Thanks for the response. So back to the other original question. What do you think the labor market would look like? What percentage of people would choose to continue working? Would their still be a wide range of incomes or would it just be a two class society (workers/non-workers). Would there be any stigma to working or not working?

My point is i do not think your scenario is possible, so there is no logical answer to a question that you ask that has no way to be answered.

A scenario doesn't need to be possible to have logical effects within the unrealistic boundaries. It is impossible that I will grow a third arm but that doesn't mean I can't opine on what I would do with one.

[Vteckidd]

A scenario doesn't need to be possible to have logical effects within the unrealistic boundaries. It is impossible that I will grow a third arm but that doesn't mean I can't opine on what I would do with one.

touche

Your question is more like "if people didnt want to play basketball, would they play basketball?"



If people didnt NEED to work, would they work? Probably not, because in the term that you and i THINK of what work really is. In 100 years , under your scneario, work would still happen, but it wouldnt be as you and I think about it today.

[bu villain]

touche

Your question is more like "if people didnt want to play basketball, would they play basketball?"



If people didnt NEED to work, would they work? Probably not, because in the term that you and i THINK of what work really is. In 100 years , under your scneario, work would still happen, but it wouldnt be as you and I think about it today.

It's more like, if they didn't NEED to play basketball. Since that already is the case, obviously the answer is that there is that a small percentage of people who choose to play basketball. The question is, would the same hold true for things we normally consider "work"? I agree it would be quite different than how we think about it today, which is why I find it to be an interesting question. I am also interested in the ethical side. If everyone chose to do nothing particularly productive, is there anything wrong with that? Do we have a moral imperative to make society better through effort?

[Vteckidd]

I am also interested in the ethical side. If everyone chose to do nothing particularly productive, is there anything wrong with that? Do we have a moral imperative to make society better through effort?

So you think we work now to make society better? define productive.

YOu are changing the question.

[Sinfix_15]

This is not liberal ideology, it's a philosophical question.



You got it! Thanks for the response. So back to the other original question. What do you think the labor market would look like? What percentage of people would choose to continue working? Would their still be a wide range of incomes or would it just be a two class society (workers/non-workers). Would there be any stigma to working or not working?



A scenario doesn't need to be possible to have logical effects within the unrealistic boundaries. It is impossible that I will grow a third arm but that doesn't mean I can't opine on what I would do with one.

Only a visionary could construct such a deep and philosophical question. I can only imagine the possibilities of what people would do in this fantasy scenario where they didnt actually have to work..... only the boundaries of our imagination can limit the answers to this question. Maybe one day we can see this scenario play out in reality and gain some understanding from the results....

[bu villain]

Only a visionary could construct such a deep and philosophical question. I can only imagine the possibilities of what people would do in this fantasy scenario where they didnt actually have to work..... only the boundaries of our imagination can limit the answers to this question. Maybe one day we can see this scenario play out in reality and gain some understanding from the results...

So you think celebrities with fame and fortune are a good representation of how everyone would live if they only didn't have to worry about food, shelter, and water? Interesting.

[Sinfix_15]

So you think celebrities with fame and fortune are a good representation of how everyone would live if they only didn't have to worry about food, shelter, and water? Interesting.

Yes actually i do. Each person pursued a path that brought fulfillment to their life without the burden of having to make money.

Paris Hilton partied.
Harry joined the military.
Lil Wayne became an artist.
I dont actually know what Bill Gates daughter does....

That's a pretty diverse selection of career paths for a group of individuals who did not have to work for anything. With endless opportunity, some people will do nothing. With no opportunity, some people will do everything. The real question is why do we take from some people and give to others? That is the only way to accomplish your scenario. I dont care who does and does not work, im just tired of footing the bill for people who dont work.

[.blank cd]

If logical discussion within illogical boundaries could not be accomplished, we wouldn't have myths, fantasy, science fiction, or a large portion of our popular culture.

Or science, period, for that matter.

[David88vert]

Or science, period, for that matter.

Support this statement factually.

[bu villain]

Ok, so here is your illogical and irrational answer.

Half will still work to improve their lives. Half will be lazy.

How did I come up with that? With no logic or reason - just made it up. That's what you want though, right?

Yes, that is what I wanted although a little more on the though process that got you there would have been great. Anyways, thanks for at least answering.

I think society would always evolve it's definition of necessity regardless of what was provided. If we provided food and shelter so that people only worked for what they wanted, then people without cellphones would say they needed cellphones, then people without SUVs would say they needed SUVs, then people without swimming pools would say they needed swimming pools. Productive people would continue to be productive and unproductive people would continue to be unproductive. The only thing you would accomplish is whatever peace of mind you get from knowing that unproductive members of society wont be starving because of their actions.

In my scenario, the level of free shelter, water, and food would never change no matter how much people clamored for it.

[Sinfix_15]

Yes, that is what I wanted although a little more on the though process that got you there would have been great. Anyways, thanks for at least answering.



In my scenario, the level of free shelter, water, and food would never change no matter how much people clamored for it.

society wouldnt change.... what is offered wouldnt matter to the productive members of society, they would work for better shelter, better water and better food. The unproductive members of society would still have the same victim mindset and not be happy with what they have. Current society demonstrates this. People in america are not content living in the most prosperous nation on earth, they always want what someone else has. If we provided the entire country with a free honda civic, people would still steal corvettes.

[bu villain]

society wouldnt change.... what is offered wouldnt matter to the productive members of society, they would work for better shelter, better water and better food. The unproductive members of society would still have the same victim mindset and not be happy with what they have. Current society demonstrates this. People in america are not content living in the most prosperous nation on earth, they always want what someone else has. If we provided the entire country with a free honda civic, people would still steal corvettes.

Hmm, I can say for myself that how I lived my life would change. I would have pursued a different path than the relatively high paying career I am now in. Do you not think there are enough people like me that it would create a significant difference? What about all the minimum wage jobs? Would people still be pursuing those jobs like they do now?

[Sinfix_15]

Hmm, I can say for myself that how I lived my life would change. I would have pursued a different path than the relatively high paying career I am now in. Do you not think there are enough people like me that it would create a significant difference? What about all the minimum wage jobs? Would people still be pursuing those jobs like they do now?

You're asking questions that society is already answering. People would get dumber, less ambitious, less motivated and less productive. Government aid is on the rise, society is on the decline. Connect the dots.

[.blank cd]

Support this statement factually.

Ummm...

Evolution
Heliocentricity
Gravitation
Thermodynamics
Abiogenesis
Big Bang
Spherical Earth
Religion

[David88vert]

Ummm...

Evolution
Heliocentricity
Gravitation
Thermodynamics
Abiogenesis
Big Bang
Spherical Earth
Religion

I don't think you understand what "factually" means if you think that you answered the question seriously.

[.blank cd]

I don't think you understand what "factually" means if you think that you answered the question seriously.

All of those started as a philosophical question at one point. This isn't a debatable opinion, so what are you asking?

[David88vert]

All of those started as a philosophical question at one point. This isn't a debatable opinion, so what are you asking?

Not all of those were facts of sciience. Are you claiming that you were offering extra information outside the scope of the question?

[.blank cd]

Not all of those were facts of sciience. Are you claiming that you were offering extra information outside the scope of the question?

All of the science concepts are facts now. All of those concepts, including religion, we're at one point philosophical questions. I was just rebutting Vtec that many things in life we know of as facts today were in some way illogical at one point, thus, philosophical questions can be, and have been productive discussion.

[David88vert]

All of the science concepts are facts now. All of those concepts, including religion, we're at one point philosophical questions. I was just rebutting Vtec that many things in life we know of as facts today were in some way illogical at one point, thus, philosophical questions can be, and have been productive discussion.

So, the theory of evolution is now recognized as fact? The Big Bang is no longer a theory? Religion is somehow scientific?

I simply asked for factual scientific examples, nothing more. Your response did not include only those examples, hence my statement, which you appear to confirm with your follow-up.

[.blank cd]

So, the theory of evolution is now recognized as fact?

Its recognized as both, yes.

The Big Bang is no longer a theory?

Both.

Religion is somehow scientific?

No

[.blank cd]

Playing your fantasy game doesnt make my head hurt, realizing this fantasy fiction game is how liberals really solve political issues is what makes me head hurt.


I know how to fix the economy! lets sell unicorn rides to pixie dust fairy land.

You've really succeeded in marginalizing education huh?

Fortunately this is how smart people solve political issues, in actual reality, for thousands of years.

[Sinfix_15]

You've really succeeded in marginalizing education huh?

Fortunately this is how smart people solve political issues, in actual reality, for thousands of years.

by asking "what if we could do something that wasnt possible?" or "what if we can accomplish something with two things that completely contradict each other?"

[.blank cd]

He's unable to play it because it forces him to identify with a method of thinking that pundits have coerced him to fundamentally reject.

Being smart is now a "liberal" quality.

[.blank cd]

by asking "what if we could do something that wasnt possible?" or "what if we can accomplish something with two things that completely contradict each other?"

Every single thing you interact with in life was at one point impossible.