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Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

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Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#31
This is a generally unpopular opinion, and I don't know that I agree with it, but it does appear that the billionaires might be logically right from an ethical perspective.

It might cost more QALYs (quality-adjusted life years) to have an economic recession the size of 2008 than to have millions die from COVID-19: https://medium.com/@benfinn/coronavirus-how-much-is-a-life-w...

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#32

What if, at the tail end of all this, a bunch of people find that they've tried remote work and decided: "Hey - this fucking rules! " In part because they've realized that they can complete their core work duties in less time, with less distractions, and zero commuting. Maybe - just maybe - this could be the unplug that helps people prioritize the things that they enjoy over their work. I recognize that's a viewpoint…

I’ve said to numerous people over the last three weeks that the world is just not going back to the way it was after this is over. Nobody has really listened to or believed me. I’m glad I’m starting to hear more people saying the same thing.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#33
post #2

Usually they don't say the quiet part out loud, and yet here we are. We're incredibly fortunate in tech that we can do a large portion of work remotely, many people aren't so lucky. One would think that we'd value life above profit but lately that doesn't appear to be the case.

> Usually they don't say the quiet part out loud, and yet here we are. I can’t wrap my head around this. Why would any sane person say this out loud, regardless of their opinions? Don’t these people have PR consultants around? What am I missing?

>I can’t wrap my head around this. Why would any sane person say this out loud, regardless of their opinions?[...]What am I missing?

because, sadly, they know that they will not face any consequences for this in the US.

It's like Yuval Noah Harari being invited to dinners by the same tech titans he accuses of building a dystopia. The only thing they hear is that they're powerful.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#34

“No one reached out to me and said, ‘As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that all America loves for your children and grandchildren?’” Patrick said. “If that’s the exchange, I’m all in.” This is from Dan Patrick, Texas Lt Gov. who doesn't want to sacrifice their lives for S&P 500?

Which is also completely ridiculous considering new deal, WWII command and control economy, korea/vietnam draft, and other various 'high alert' scenarios which have occurred while 'the America that all America loves' is a little locked down for a while

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#35

Okay, so if we let the infection rip, what's their plan to deal with the massive wave of people suffocating on their own phlegm? Dig a trench?

I know this won't be a popular take but I haven't seen any compelling data to indicate what we're dealing with is any more deadly than a cold. No one has any idea how many people have been infected by this virus. It is assuredly many many more than current tests have revealed as the only people being tested are healthcare workers and at-risk individuals. I wouldn't be surprised if over a million people in the U.S. ha…

How do you explain hundreds of people dying every day in Italy?

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#36
post #14

What if, at the tail end of all this, a bunch of people find that they've tried remote work and decided: "Hey - this fucking rules! " In part because they've realized that they can complete their core work duties in less time, with less distractions, and zero commuting. Maybe - just maybe - this could be the unplug that helps people prioritize the things that they enjoy over their work. I recognize that's a viewpoint…

> In part because they've realized that they can complete their core work duties in less time, with less distractions, and zero commuting. The first two depend _very_ heavily on both your home and office environments. It is certainly not true for myself.

Yes, but at the same time, it is absolutely, immensely true for me, and I doubt I'm in a minority small enough for OP's point to not have some merit.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#37
post #10

I'm using my quarantine time to read Piketty's "Capital in the 21st century". I'm actually pretty sure I'm _not_ going back to work if it risks my health. And it is obvious that the rentiers of our economy want the non-rentiers to go back to work. The rentiers actually have little to lose. The article states they might get sick, but if we're being realistic, they are very well sheltered against the collapse of the he…

Appropriate disaster reading :-). Others have pointed out how the black plague killed off a lot of serfs and really put a dent in feudalism because of it. It is all well and good to own a thousand hectares of land but without the serfs to work it, its just a nice park to go walking in.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#38

What if, at the tail end of all this, a bunch of people find that they've tried remote work and decided: "Hey - this fucking rules! " In part because they've realized that they can complete their core work duties in less time, with less distractions, and zero commuting. Maybe - just maybe - this could be the unplug that helps people prioritize the things that they enjoy over their work. I recognize that's a viewpoint…

> "In part because they've realized that they can complete their core work duties in less time, with less distractions, and zero commuting."

Not me. I actually want to go back to the office, despite the hassle of commuting. Working from a jury-rigged home office is incredibly inconvenient.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#39

Okay, so if we let the infection rip, what's their plan to deal with the massive wave of people suffocating on their own phlegm? Dig a trench?

I know this won't be a popular take but I haven't seen any compelling data to indicate what we're dealing with is any more deadly than a cold. No one has any idea how many people have been infected by this virus. It is assuredly many many more than current tests have revealed as the only people being tested are healthcare workers and at-risk individuals. I wouldn't be surprised if over a million people in the U.S. ha…

It won't be a popular take because there is little to no evidence to support this assertion.

Re: Billionaires Want People Back to Work. Employees Aren’t So Sure

#40
As soon as the CEOs and Board Members are willing to shake the hand of everyone coming back into the building we can resume work.

The rich aren't going to be exposed to risks like the working folk whether they're at the office or not due to their normal distancing.

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