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The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

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Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#52
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Some might say "too much capitalism". I don't know many protestants.

"Too much capitalism" would imply that the people who get money funneled to them at the top don't work hard enough (or take enough risk) to earn that money. Surely you don't believe that? edit: Sarcasm on HN is a bad idea. Obviously earning 400x a worker's wage is bullshit, there's no amount of work that justifies that.

The issue is not the sarcasm, the issue is that there is now no way to differentiate that sarcasm from a non-sarcastic opinion on HN, because you can find people legitimately believing this.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#53

I don't really see the 'gig economy' as an alternative to regular jobs, which is always implicitly or explicitly implied by these articles. If you need a job, go find a job. If you are flexible, have some extra time, could use some extra money, enjoy these gig tasks or whatever, find a gig task. Obviously there aren't enough jobs to go around, this is not caused by the gig economy. Some regular jobs don't pay well en…

There are plenty of jobs. People just refuse to do them. https://www.chrisstucchio.com/blog/2016/robots_didnt_take_ou... Aren't Trump's anti-immigrant attitude considered bad in part because we might lose immigrant labor we are dependent on?

There is a difference between a job and "there is much work to be done".

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#54
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

58% of Americans would prefer a federally funded healthcare system[0], akin to healthcare in Canada. We only feel alone because both parties are bought and owned by multi-nationals, and don't give a shit about what most people want. First Past the Post ensures a 3rd party will cause carnage if it ever did rise, splitting the vote and not electing the candidate most voters would prefer. Look at Wolf PAC in Connecticut…

Doesn't federally funded healthcare system have problems like lower quality of healthcare, increased government spending, increased chances of corruption and creating a moral hazard of not working to earn what is consumed ?

No, it doesn't.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#56
post #34
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

58% of Americans would prefer a federally funded healthcare system[0], akin to healthcare in Canada. We only feel alone because both parties are bought and owned by multi-nationals, and don't give a shit about what most people want. First Past the Post ensures a 3rd party will cause carnage if it ever did rise, splitting the vote and not electing the candidate most voters would prefer. Look at Wolf PAC in Connecticut…

You badly need a multi party system. Your current system is too polarized. There's no way to represent nuances. What if I like guns but I want universal healthcare? What if I want a smaller government but I also want great environmental policies? The US system was ok in the 18th century but now it's a relic. Some things don't age well.

First, I have some good American friends. My grudge is not with the people of America but the American system, which the people of American has no say in.

George Carlin puts it best, "America was founded by a group of Salve owners on the premise that all man are created equal."

My observation is that America is the land of law & order as every illegal & unethical practice becomes law. Its owned by 1% and wages war for the 1% in the pretext of spreading the seeds of democracy.

The thing that worried me the most as a non-American is that people around the world think that America is a democracy and all the "bad dudes"(corrupt self-interested 1%), gain power in America and try to impose their will on rest of the world by using Hollywood, CIA & US defence force.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#57

...you see even IF Uber prohibit drivers from using their own app between rides, if they all just agree, they can just go fuck it, we've had enough. anyone here ever spoken to a happy Uber driver? Me neither. Wife...family..kids meanwhile Kalanick gets his $6bn...NICE.

here, hear

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#58
post #9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> Seems like in America it's hard to win. Either get paid not nearly enough and struggle to make ends meet, or get a high paid high stress job, still work all day and all night. A consequence of worshipping money. Even a human is valued by the amount of money they make or what they can afford. Other societies have agreed that there are some fundamental things that they will all share the burden for collectively and…

I'd agree with all of that. The differences between Europe and the US in terms of maternity leave / time off / healthcare are fairly stark. And now we're presently dismantling healthcare as a right in the US. Really hitting at least one disaster in your life seems almost inevitable, and the system is waiting there to profit from you. I'm definitely of the more socialist bent, in that I know that if people around me a…

The cultural differences between Europe and the US are amazing.

The Lyft story of a driver who still takes rides while in labor wouldn't be "controversial" in Europe, it would be universally appalling. I don't think any corporate PR, however clueless, would even think of telling it.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#59
As a European (used to free healthcare, statutory maternity leave, and 25 days paid leave per year) it shocked me on first visiting America how third-world it actually feels regarding what people consider a "normal" work/life balance.

People work incredibly hard, long hours and often with very little to show for it. It's surreal.

Re: The Gig Economy Celebrates Working To Excess

#60
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You do realize your way of life can never become mainstream, right ?

It can act as an additional revenue source thus allowing you to cut on the hours you work per week. If you can train yourself, or find a proper mentor. Though I think a proper mentor is the real bottle neck, so too many try to train themselves and lack the proper knowledge for where to start; too many go to CNBC to start.. If it became mainstream it would just mean more volatility which for me.. volatility is a good…

I think what the parent means is that not everyone could do this and make money and then have to work less.

If that were possible, then it would also be possible for no-one to ever have to work, which might be possible in the future, but not right now.

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