Joshua BarrettoAug 16, 2023
It occurred to me today that the social value of the open-source work I do in my free time has probably been an order of magnitude more useful to the world than everything I've ever done as a paid employee. Needing to seek a wage almost certainly makes me a less productive member of society than I would otherwise be.
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Aug 16, 2023

@jsbarretto

a perfect case in point for #UBI (Universal Basic income)

Show threadtshepangAug 18, 2023
@HistoPol @jsbarretto that and universal basic services
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Aug 18, 2023

@tshepang
I would need to give this idea some more thought.

You see, if a service does not cost anything at all, there tends to be waste and abuse.

If everyone is given a basic income to cover their (basic) needs, this would solve that problem too, don't you think?

In any event, public goods should be held by a (non-corrupt) state and not by private citizens or corporations (e.g. water rights).

@jsbarretto

Show threadJoshua BarrettoAug 18, 2023
@HistoPol @tshepang I think this is a common misnomer. When it comes to basic services, it's rare that they're abused. In the UK, healthcare is free at the point of use but nobody goes for a jolly down to the local hospital. Similarly, almost nobody does the same for food banks, social benefits, etc. without good reason. I don't think that humans actually behave like classical economics would suggest (i.e: as cynical min-maxers who will readily take over the needs of others).
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Aug 18, 2023

@jsbarretto @tshepang

Interesting thoughts.

Apart from health care (where I tend to disagree, as the inflation rate, including innovation had been 12-15%, depending on the country, even before the Pandemic . The #NHS is in a huge crisis and even in non-Oil countries, maintaining it open for all is gigantic and access must be limited for the system not to break. - Limited regarding the scope of the services, not regarding nationals and residents.)
...which universal basic services do you see?

Show threadJoshua BarrettoAug 18, 2023
@HistoPol @tshepang What do you mean by 'see' exactly? I think food/healthcare/housing/water/heating/internet connection are all pretty essential for living in today's world, so I'd rather see their provision to all citizens be a statutory requirement placed upon both local and national governments.
Show threadtshepangAug 18, 2023
@jsbarretto @HistoPol I would extend that to all, not just citizens, for it would be very sad to be denied such basic things for being born in the "wrong" place
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Aug 18, 2023

@tshepang
In order for a state to take care of its citizens and (legal) residents who have to foot the bill, NO system can ever be open to all comers, as there are always limited resources.
Just have a look at the millions of war #refugees that had to be accommodated in the #EU.
Many low-income citizens and residents are already crowded out of an extremely tight housing market. Right-wing governments are already in place or might be soon. Asking for freedom...

@jsbarretto

Show threadtshepang
@HistoPol @jsbarretto yet those refugees have overall a better life in those crowded places, which is worth the reduced comfort for those who happen to be born in the "right" place
Aug 18, 2023 at 4:21pmWeb
Show threadHistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴Aug 18, 2023
@tshepang @jsbarretto
I can totally understand that.
I have been to such countries.
I have also been to several of the EU and all N-American countries. You underestimate the power of the right-wing movements. They recruit a lot of their followers from what might be derisively called "white trash."
People, in other words, often with a low educational background and on the losing end of the looming Age of LLMs. In many countries, more crowding out on a massive scale is simply not socially tenable