I'm going to work full-time on free software • Hacker News Board

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#141

Post by alligatorstraw » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:05 PM UTC

reidjs wrote: post #94

bjourne wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My best counterargument: Who cares about numbers? What everyone needs is food and housing. There is plenty of that for everyone to live comfortable and full-filling lives. The sooner we realize that, the sooner we can work on what really matters which is SAVING THE PLANET for future generations.

It’s more challenging that allocate food and housing fairly than money, though.

I'm not sure if the OP is advocating to abolish money. The supply of money is in some broad sense irrelevant unless there is not enough bills to pass around or we have to carry suitcases of money to purchase toothpicks. What matters is whether there is sufficient goods and services to support the population. Of course, you have to account for changes in behavior in consumption because of inflation and deflation.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#142

Post by Numberwang » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:08 PM UTC

skrowl wrote: post #57

sudofail wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd just like to point out that your figures don't add up. First of all, you're not taking into account that Sweden has a progressive tax rate, like the US. The figure you quoted in your second link is for the highest marginal tax rate. If you were to be consistent, you could use the figure for America's marginal tax rate listed in your second article, which is 37%. So apples to apples comparison would be that the US…

Sweden also has a 25% VAT (sales) tax on just about everything you buy there. After they rake hard from your paycheck they rake hard again when you spend what's left.

That 25% is a made up number as well. It is lower on a lot of items. Try making america great again by actually putting in some effort instead of making bullshit arguments as to why my country sucks.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#143

Post by hinkley » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:10 PM UTC

blfr wrote: post #83

peatmoss wrote: post #12

My best argument for UBI is, “I’d love to be able to work on F/OSS full time.” Kudos for making it a reality. It may be scratching a personal itch, but the positive externalities to society are real.

Yeah, it's the modern version of a minor landed gentleman who can pursue his interests. It's how we got science. Sadly, the best argument against UBI is that vast, vast majority of people will not be working full time on F/OSS or quite possible anything else.

The best argument I know for UBI is that manufacturing is propped up by overconsumption because we have been able to make more than we need for a very long time. If one worker makes enough stuff for five people what do the other four do?

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#144

Post by alligatorstraw » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:10 PM UTC

astazangasta wrote: post #134

alligatorstraw wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never quite understood why many central banks expand the money supply by purchasing financial assets instead of just handing out money to everyone.

Really? Seems pretty obvious - purchasing assets helps their friends in Goldman and Citibank. Handing out money helps the poors. If you were a fat cat banker, what would you do? This, despite the fact that the utility of money is greater for the poors and the stimulatory effect of giving it to them is greater. But if we do that, we are told, we create "moral hazard" because people will think they don't have to pay th…

I had vaguely thought that was the reason but I can't seem to find any articles that express that outrage so I thought maybe there was a better reason. Do you know of any? On the other hand, I've found plenty of articles expressing anger at bailing out banks.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#145

Post by nekopa » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:14 PM UTC

onetimeusename wrote: post #79

RussianCow wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Most people probably won't do nothing because that's boring. I think you underestimate the amount of people that are content with not doing anything.

yes, I am surprised this is overlooked. It may be that tech workers who like the idea of UBI imagine working on open source projects. I picture a large percentage of the population choosing to use drugs, drink, play video games, pick up a hobby that doesn't pay, watch TV, or even just do nothing. Then as a result of squandering their time, these people could become permanently unemployable or unskilled and would have…

Except if there is UBI there wouldn't be (or be a need for welfare).

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#146

Post by simplecomplex » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:17 PM UTC

Please think twice before spending your life savings, especially if you have no solid plan for getting donations to pay for your living expenses. It’s much less risky to increase donations before quitting your job.

Just be careful if this is your life savings.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#147

Post by vram22 » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:19 PM UTC

blfr wrote: post #83

peatmoss wrote: post #12

My best argument for UBI is, “I’d love to be able to work on F/OSS full time.” Kudos for making it a reality. It may be scratching a personal itch, but the positive externalities to society are real.

Yeah, it's the modern version of a minor landed gentleman who can pursue his interests. It's how we got science. Sadly, the best argument against UBI is that vast, vast majority of people will not be working full time on F/OSS or quite possible anything else.

>Yeah, it's the modern version of a minor landed gentleman who can pursue his interests. It's how we got science.

And some of how we got Perl. I had read some time ago that Larry Wall said that Tim O'Reilly was his patron, as in the medieval sense of the term (think Florence etc.), when the nobility or rich people used to patronize (i.e. financially sponsor and recognize) artists, craftsmen, scientists, etc.

And Tim did sponsor Larry (and others who worked on Perl, I guess), via publishing Perl books and organizing conferences, etc.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#148

Post by drcoopster » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:20 PM UTC

dragonwriter wrote: post #56

_khhm wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> because of the 'unfettered capitalism' ideology of many in Washington, which is heavily skewed to the right I'm going to assume you're not in the USA. Washington DC is over 70% Democrat (which is our left wing party) https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/housing-complex/blo... Washington DC hasn't elected a Republican (our right wing party, about 6% of the population there) since the 1870s https://en.wikipedia.o…

> I'm going to assume you're not in the USA. Washington DC is over 70% Democrat (which is our left wing party) In American English, in political contexts, “Washington” is a frequently used idiom for “decision-makers in the US Federal Government”. (This applies mutatis mutandis , to the names of political capitals generally, which stand in for the leadership of the government seared their; in the context of discussion…

> electorate in the capital district

You know they don't have any real federal representation, right? Calling them an electorate when referring to anything other than local DC politics is probably not appropriate.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#149

Post by jefurii » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:21 PM UTC

peatmoss wrote: post #12

My best argument for UBI is, “I’d love to be able to work on F/OSS full time.” Kudos for making it a reality. It may be scratching a personal itch, but the positive externalities to society are real.

Do we really have to have a huge long thread on UBI here? Really? This is about a developer working on a cool project turning it into a living.

Re: I'm going to work full-time on free software

#150

Post by CuriousSkeptic » Wed, Jan 16, 2019, 5:21 PM UTC

RussianCow wrote: post #69

thfuran wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But people aren't paid to do nothing under UBI. They don't lose the pay if they do things. Most people probably won't do nothing because that's boring. And Counting money is a bit harder than that. When I tip waitstaff, that income for them was my income before that and my employer's income before that and hospitals' income before that and, just maybe, that same waiter's income before that. But if instead it was medi…

> Most people probably won't do nothing because that's boring. I think you underestimate the amount of people that are content with not doing anything.

In places where an UBI has been tried economic activity has gone up.