chess | (no subject)

You're viewing

chess's journal
Create a Dreamwidth Account Learn More

Reload page in style: site light

I've been finding out lately that a disturbing number of you are conservatives/Tory supporters of some stripe or another. Being somewhat of a flaming red socialist myself, I'm interested in how you guys justify the belief that the rich ought to get richer and the poor ought to fend for themselves that seems to be the Tory standpoint to me...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Let me give you a for-instance, here, to clarify a point or two: assume somebody is a devout Jew[...] Should they be forced to 'get a job'?

How about the flip-side of that, then? Assuming it's optional to have to have a job one considers distasteful and an income will be guaranteed anyway, then: a) how bad a fit does a job have to be before one doesn't need to work? b) what incentive is there for anyone to work? c) who will do the messy jobs like repairing flooded sewers or working in a slaughterhouse? d) if the solution is to pay more money for unpleasant jobs then how will the resulting catastrophic inflation be dealt with? e) how much should the remaining workforce - which is too small to pay for the existing social security regime due to an aging population - pay to people who choose not to work despite being capable?

FWIW, my answer is "yes, they should be forced to get a job". If someone's conscious choices, as opposed to accidents or illness, make them unable or unwilling to earn an income then the rest of the nation does not owe them one. Which, I guess, puts me quite far to the right on this particular issue. I'm all for the government helping people who need it, but not for all those who want it.

Were they a devout jew, they could pray for guidance. they may feel led to work with the unclean products for money, or they may feel that they should trust their God to provide, through benefits or some other way. Or they may feel that he is calling them to join him (through starvation) in heaven as soon as possible. I don't think there's any need for the government to work with everyone's god, they'll have to work with the system.

Having met many people who like doing odd things, I'm still quite attached to the idea that 'nasty' jobs could be done on a rota system. I point out as examples of this the things people will do on 'working holidays', like repairing canals and stuff.