Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep • Hacker News Board

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#331

Post by philwelch » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:23 AM UTC

CodeMage wrote: post #36

glesica wrote: post #18

I think that when people say "hard problems" they mean "problems that almost certainly have solutions if you are willing to put in the effort". Poverty on the other hand is a much, much harder problem than that. In fact, no one quite knows how to solve it in a general way (there are things that seem to work in certain contexts but not in others, many special case half-solutions). And on top of that, there probably is…

Poverty on the other hand is a much, much harder problem than that. In fact, no one quite knows how to solve it in a general way (there are things that seem to work in certain contexts but not in others, many special case half-solutions). Everyone keeps saying that, as if there were only two alternatives: 1) completely fix poverty in a general way or 2) keep the status quo (and allow it to get worse). There has to be…

Can you provide citations that aren't garbage linkbait that pops up with a passive-aggressive "I believe in equality blah blah blah" that you have to click through before seeing nothing but a six minute flash video with no other useful content? Because I'm not going to watch it. I can read, thanks. I'm literate. Please don't insult my intelligence.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#332

Post by epsylon » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:32 AM UTC

LekkoscPiwa wrote: post #268

pyoung wrote: post #260

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The lack of universal health care probably exacerbates the homelessness situation in the U.S. With that said, what you see in San Francisco is largely a product of the combination of homeless friendly policies and tolerable weather. Many of the 'homeless' you see during the day don't actually sleep on the street (although a decent number do) and actually reside in SRO's, subsidized housing, and shelters (One complain…

European nations would not be able to afford universal healthcare and all the welfare if they had to pay for their security. US bases in Europe are great financial aid. I never hear discussions about Iran or Russia being a possible threat in Europe. I do in the US. Which is funny because it really is much bigger problem for Europeans to have guys like Putin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at their door steps. Never happens.…

> European nations would not be able to afford universal healthcare and all the welfare if they had to pay for their security. US bases in Europe are great financial aid.

Bullshit. Not only are there examples of military independent countries (ever heard of France?) with better healthcare systems, but your whole theory about military expenses being the root cause for USA's less than ideal healthcare system is far too simplistic.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#333

Post by philwelch » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:33 AM UTC

glesica wrote: post #311

duncan_bayne wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have a read of what pg has to say about wealth inequality here: http://www.paulgraham.com/inequality.html "So let's be clear what reducing economic inequality means. It is identical with taking money from the rich."

I strongly disagree with his apparent assumption that you can't "push down on the top" without wrecking things up. Sweden and Finland are proof that this isn't true, both have competitive economies that outscore the US in many important metrics for success (among these is general happiness). You can let people become wealthy, and therefore give people incentive to invest and create, without creating the kind of insan…

In an ideal society, it would not be illegal to be rich. It would be illegal to buy off members of Congress, pay people to vote for you or your cronies, own media outlets and using them to get (and keep) yourself elected into office, or in any way use that wealth to subvert the democratic process. We don't have ideal societies, but that's obviously a direction worth going.

That doesn't mean you totally eliminate any power or privilege that wealth brings. Trying to eradicate malaria using your billions of dollars is an exercise in power, albeit not one that subverts the democratic process.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#334

Post by porker » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:40 AM UTC

DanBC wrote: post #225

tokenadult wrote: post #162

Places with good weather have huge visible homeless populations. (I have traveled all over the United States, and have been to all fifty states. AFTER EDIT: I have been in, and have lived in, gritty "skid row" neighborhoods of large United States cities, and have lived in Los Angeles.) Places with lousy weather, like the place where I grew up and now live, certainly have people who are "homeless" in the sense of not…

> is where do people live in Europe if they have no personal funds to buy or rent housing? Do they live in housing operated by some unit of government, or where? The English benefit system is complex. Here's an attempt to describe some of it. We pay a national insurance. Some of our benefits are based on contributions you make. Other benefits are income related (means-tested.) If you have a mortgage and lose your job…

Thanks, that's the clearest explanation I've seen of our system. And what a mess it is!

I am personally in favour of the bedroom tax, so it'd be good to hear why this is horrible (I'm sure there are edge cases I've not thought of).

Completely agree about housing benefit being a horrifically inefficient system. I was talking to a person who deals with people on housing benefit yesterday, about the number who lie about not cohabiting (so they get higher payments for being 'single'). Not sure any way round that.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#335

Post by vacri » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:45 AM UTC

duncan_bayne wrote: post #309

CodeMage wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Poverty on the other hand is a much, much harder problem than that. In fact, no one quite knows how to solve it in a general way (there are things that seem to work in certain contexts but not in others, many special case half-solutions). Everyone keeps saying that, as if there were only two alternatives: 1) completely fix poverty in a general way or 2) keep the status quo (and allow it to get worse). There has to be…

Have a read of what pg has to say about wealth inequality here: http://www.paulgraham.com/inequality.html "So let's be clear what reducing economic inequality means. It is identical with taking money from the rich."

Well, duh. More importantly is whether you see that as morally fair or as stealing. Usually when people say this line, they're implying that the rich will have all their money stolen until they have the same amount of money as everyone else - and of course this isn't actually advocated anywhere outside of communist societies.

That particular quoted line reminds me of a friend, who when she got a $10k raise, could do nothing but bitch about how 'half of it was going straight to the government' (despite it actually being only about 30%). If you define how wealthy you are by how much is taken from you, you should probably re-examine your priorities.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#336

Post by vacri » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:47 AM UTC

roguecoder wrote: post #221

run4yourlives wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I like the idea of a Basic Income, and have actually come to support it heartily, (if you don't, take a look at some of the economists who have, and why they do) you are being naive to think that "self-inflicted cases" are somehow anything other than a vast majority. Almost all homeless have mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. That's why they are unable to act on one of the endless options that exist…

41% of the population will experience a diagnosable mental illness, and 26% have one in any given year. Clearly there is more to the issue than just blaming mental illness or there would be far more homeless people than there are right now. Discovering what support structures work and making those more easily accessible seems like a great place for a disruptive start up, except that health care is so incredibly messe…

You need to be careful when talking about the demographics of mental illness. Much mental illness leaves you still able to function and contribute socially to a fair degree.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#337

Post by berntb » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:49 AM UTC

just_hobbyst wrote: post #290

LekkoscPiwa wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that's why socialism is exported by Russia. You see: normally people would vote for security/military spending and not social care. But that's exactly what Russians, i.e. KGB do. They export socialism to the elites of countries they want to weaken. If you study Russian expansionism since its inception hundreds of years ago, their strategy has always been the same. Russia strategy for centuries has been always t…

Man, you really are confused! If a country is serious about national defence then it really needs universal health care, because it needs lots of healthy soldiers. Soviet Russia did a lot to make sure there was at least basic medical care available to everyone for exactly this reason - they needed millions of soldiers! Finland is doing the right thing when it takes care for it's citizens. Also, news flash for you: so…

I'd guess the Polish rant is based on that Soviet really did support the anti-nuclear weapon movement, and so on.

Seing conspiracy theories like those, I am strengthened in the belief that the US extreme left and right are equally crazy. In Europe we mostly see the Chomsky brigade, some variation would make it less irritating.

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#338

Post by vacri » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:53 AM UTC

robeasthope wrote: post #247

beat wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but I also figure that anyone smart enough to effectively game the welfare system is smart enough to do substantially better than what even gamed welfare can provide.

Trust me, in the UK at least, you really don't need much to game the welfare system. While the government is making gradual changes the requirements and checks for UK citizens to claim job seekers allowance week after week are laughable low compared to the rhetoric thrown around.

The other side of the coin is what do you do when there actually aren't jobs available in the region and there are too many people to effectively set up in self-employment? Making people jump through hoops and then frowning at their failings is fine when isolated to an individual, but at a demographic level it breaks down.

I recently spend five months out of work and unable to find a job and received welfare. I saw others like me playing the system. I saw others like me struggling to satisfy the system and more, applying for everything and getting rejections similarly. The system doesn't differentiate between the two.

To some degree it's the old 'where do you draw the line' - do you prefer to see the innocent suffer or the guilty go free?

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#339

Post by eropple » Wed, May 15, 2013, 6:57 AM UTC

eli_gottlieb wrote: post #237

ardit33 wrote: post #132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How old are you? I used to have the same existential feelings as well when I moved in SF, but over time you just get used to it and don't care anymore. It is part of the maturation process and realize that the world is not a fair place, and no not everybody is equal and will live equally. One thing you realize is that a lot of the people on the streets have major mental conditions (usually schizophrenia, and major dr…

How old are you? I used to have the same existential feelings as well when I moved in SF, but over time you just get used to it and don't care anymore. It is part of the maturation process and realize that the world is not a fair place, and no not everybody is equal and will live equally. I am appalled that you actually believe this. I mean, ok, the world is not by default a fair place, but the notion of simply ignor…

I found his post interesting, because I have found that as I have matured I find myself much more in tune with exactly how unfair the world really is.

And, to put a point on it, how unfair it is to people who are unlike me. Some members of my family express confusion as to why I find this troubling--after all, "I've got mine."

Re: Come here and work on hard problems – except the ones on our doorstep

#340

Post by pfortuny » Wed, May 15, 2013, 7:37 AM UTC

VMG wrote: post #125

pfortuny wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You -as well as I- most probably come from unfit ancestors with lots of children. And that is irrelevant, as far as I can tell. So your argument is?

Going back far enough, you and I probably came from rape and lack of contraception as well. Your argument is?

That he was making no argument.