Controversial Political Opinions

[JasonBlack]

(07-13-2022, 05:12 PM)Eric the Green Wrote:

(07-13-2022, 03:02 PM)JasonBlack Wrote:

(07-13-2022, 01:28 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: I agree with Nick Hanauer instead. That's not how the system is supposed to work. It's supposed to be for people who don't have jobs. If someone is working, they are entitled to a living wage and a decent middle class life, without the need for government assistance. Making the taxpayers foot the bill for companies that refuse to pay their workers properly is socialism for the rich and the bosses.

If it's supposed to be for people who don't have jobs, unemployment and disability should cover that. Aside from that, able bodied people who refuse to work should not be given anything.

I don't think unemployment insurance is sufficient these days. I suppose I agree with "able bodied people who refuse to work should not be given anything", although that should include able-minded, and welfare to work programs that are not punitive should be available. But what Republicans forget is that recessions and depressions happen (often caused by their policies), and whatever we call government assistance should be available to help people who suffer layoffs because of this. Time limits should not apply. Help should be given to find work, and many times people get fired from jobs, often for the wrong reason, and that should not be a death sentence.

Guaranteed basic income is one proposition, which goes against the doctrine that those who can't find work or who don't work lack character, and says it's because they lack cash. I understand skepticism about this; on the other hand where it has been tried it is workable and gives good results.

This guy advocated this.

I've gone over this a few times, but trying to cast all power as either having or lacking character isn't particularly useful. I am currently poor, and have lived among several subcultures of poor people. The individuals I've seen range from
- disabled people
- rapists
- orphans
- falsely accused who never got their record cleared
- mentally retarded people
- other sex offenders (ranging from as horrific as violently molesting children to as trivial as public urination)
- veterans with PTSD
- violent psychopaths
- single mothers with children from 5 different dads
- mothers who were single because their husband died and left them supporting multiple children
- liberals who work retail
- conservatives who work retail
- farmers
- start up entrepreneurs

....as you can see, you can't lump such a varied collection of people into one set of good/bad values.