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Life Is Short (2016)

paulgraham.com

151–160 of 310 posts

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#151
post #122
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> when it's proven that such model is completely unsustainable economically and socially How exactly has it been proven? That's a very strong word to use for something that has never been tried on anything but very small scale limited pilots.

It hasnt been proven but those who live in Europe see families that get: -free housing -free money -money for children (that they use for themselves) -various other help (clothes, coal, christmas packages) This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children. Despite the parents not working (so having time to take care of their children) those children…

> This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children.

You dont seem to be aware that such programs are designed to have people raise such 5-6 children while doing nothing else in order to bump up the declining population. And if you think raising 6 children is not work... boy...

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

lmao @ UBI I can't understand how educated people can still gobble ubi propaganda up when it's proven that such model is completely unsustainable economically and socially

Because The educated is synonymous for woke politics bullshit these days. They got knowledge but they lack wisdom. They got their privilege living in safe 1st world environments but they forgot true human nature that 3rd worlders see daily.

> true human nature that 3rd worlders see daily.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-...

That's the objectively proven human nature. Not the randian nonsense. And that's what 3rd worlders see every day.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#153
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If everyone behaved like that, our society wouldn't have the wealth needed to make anyone's lives comfortable and secure, except for the lives of the rich. A job that provides an income to a worker, and generates wealth for society, is not bullshit -- even if all it involves is making crappy consumer products, or working on an assembly line, or doing paperwork all day. In fact, such jobs are the reason the majority o…

Universal Basic income would solve those problems. Eventually AI and automation should perform all the mundane jobs which is a good thing but we need to provide basic sustenance for everyone.

How basic?

We could have 75% of the population stop working now and the taxes on 25% could provide basic sustenance for everyone.. at 1910 levels.

Same thing would happen with automation, some people would keep working, get 2-3x the wealth and everything that comes with and we’re in the same spot we’re in today.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#154
post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is valueable as the comments shows so easily how wrong religions get it, when many take religions as truths

That's a valid comment to make - religions do get things wrong, but GP is plain old "look how smart I am" strawmanning. It doesn't make the discourse more interesting or enlightening, and frankly doesn't belong on this site.

On the contrary, I think comments that push religion as some kind of romantic enlightenment of the past as opposed to science are the ones that don't belong on this site.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because The educated is synonymous for woke politics bullshit these days. They got knowledge but they lack wisdom. They got their privilege living in safe 1st world environments but they forgot true human nature that 3rd worlders see daily.

> true human nature that 3rd worlders see daily. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=scientists-... That's the objectively proven human nature. Not the randian nonsense. And that's what 3rd worlders see every day.

[flagged]

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#156
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It hasnt been proven but those who live in Europe see families that get: -free housing -free money -money for children (that they use for themselves) -various other help (clothes, coal, christmas packages) This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children. Despite the parents not working (so having time to take care of their children) those children…

> This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children. You dont seem to be aware that such programs are designed to have people raise such 5-6 children while doing nothing else in order to bump up the declining population. And if you think raising 6 children is not work... boy...

I believe these program exist in the sole purpose of reducing criminality, so that the poor don't start thinking of robberies.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If everyone behaved like that, our society wouldn't have the wealth needed to make anyone's lives comfortable and secure, except for the lives of the rich. A job that provides an income to a worker, and generates wealth for society, is not bullshit -- even if all it involves is making crappy consumer products, or working on an assembly line, or doing paperwork all day. In fact, such jobs are the reason the majority o…

> If everyone behaved like that, our society wouldn't have the wealth needed to make anyone's lives comfortable and secure, except for the lives of the rich The society today already has the means to make only 1% of the population work, and still keep the comfort level for everyone as it is. We are making people waste their lives away creating imaginary wealth to bump up the stored imaginary wealth in financial insti…

Source? Criteria for “The same comfort level”?

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#158
post #73

At 51, I am trying to come to grips with wasting my life in my 20s, 30s and 40s. I don't remember doing anything memorable during that time. I spent too much time doing bullshit programming or doing the same old comfortable things with friends. I wish I dated more. Tried more things that young people can do. I was too scared to make mistakes. Now I can't go back. It's driving me nuts.

What can young people do now that you could not do ? Internet stuff? The way I see it, young people now can do less than when I was young. For example lots of dangerous activities got prohibited (e.g. fireworks) or they added too much regulations (alcohol, cigarettes, mopeds). For good or worse, no more compulsory army at 18. We live in a very protective society where every threatening activity gets banned.

As a European, I studied in the UK and got a masters, tutions fees paid by the European Union. My children cannot do this anymore.

My young is 17 and spend his free time in the gym, and he is not alone. It is true I could not do this at his age, but I do not understand it.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#159
post #122
post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> when it's proven that such model is completely unsustainable economically and socially How exactly has it been proven? That's a very strong word to use for something that has never been tried on anything but very small scale limited pilots.

It hasnt been proven but those who live in Europe see families that get: -free housing -free money -money for children (that they use for themselves) -various other help (clothes, coal, christmas packages) This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children. Despite the parents not working (so having time to take care of their children) those children…

> at some point the group will become so big that they can vote for politicians that will give them more (at the expense of those who work).

This is exactly what happens in Argentina now.

Re: Life Is Short (2016)

#160
post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It hasnt been proven but those who live in Europe see families that get: -free housing -free money -money for children (that they use for themselves) -various other help (clothes, coal, christmas packages) This had an unfortunate effect of creating a group of people who never worked and all they did was raise 3-5 children. Despite the parents not working (so having time to take care of their children) those children…

Interesting opinion, nothing that meshes with the actual largely indeterminate results of the Finish experiment [1] [2] [3] nor with the bulk of the other small scale examples [4]. Countries such as Australia with robust (compared to the US) welfare safety nets (not perfect by any means, but not to shabby overall) have proven to have strong long term GDP growth and to be resilient in the face of various global crisis…

You should check Argentina's example too.
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