81–90 of 91 posts
Explanation is easy, but understandably it's very hard for an American to grasp such a concept of life. People in Yugoslavia didn't work a lot, it's true, but not because of some lazy Sloven mentality, but because they simply didn't have to. And it even didn't make much sense to work hard in socialism, because you could work a little or you could work a lot, at the end of the month you would still earn the same salar…
According to a recent domestic survey, average Yugoslavs work efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading newspapers, conducting private business or having interminable private chats with colleagues over coffee. According to a recent domestic survey, average I.T. managers work efficiently for only 10% of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading e…
Yes, but how do define efficient work for an "I.T. manager"?
I've heard this 'Every body has a job to do' thing many times when I ask managers what they do.
But they never tell 'what exactly are they doing or they are supposed to do'.
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Yes, but how do define efficient work for an "I.T. manager"?
That's a mystery. I've heard this 'Every body has a job to do' thing many times when I ask managers what they do. But they never tell 'what exactly are they doing or they are supposed to do'.
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I think a minimum income is a good idea in a society where there's little demand for unskilled labor. As long as the basic income is priced below the average wage of skilled labor, people will still have incentives to find employment... but those that can't, still have a minimum quality of life that should be expected in the first world.
New Zealand (and probably many other nations) provides a system similar to this where you either have a job and earn as much as you're able (based on negotiating skill and to some extent actual job skill) or you are unemployed and receive a benefit which is supposed to cover your basic living costs. Without defrauding the system, you are better off getting a job as it provides you with a better income. Despite this,…
Considering recent trends, now seems like the last time you would want to lock people into wage slavery.
On top of that, in a situation like now where you have tons more hands than jobs to make use of them, this policy seems like it would only exasperate the situation in times of economic repression.
This idea is literally considered the Bad Future(TM) in Marshall Brains Manna[0]. And I can't say I disagree. I don't want to live in a world where those homeless people I see on the street are rounded up and sedated somewhere. Especially if one day I might join them.
Not to mention that this basically outlaws several kinds of professions. (Freelance artist, Consultant)
According to a recent domestic survey, average Yugoslavs work efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading newspapers, conducting private business or having interminable private chats with colleagues over coffee. According to a recent domestic survey, average I.T. managers work efficiently for only 10% of their eight-hour workday. The rest of the time is spent reading e…
Some disclosure: I've been born and raised in Canada and my parents are immigrants from the former Yugoslavia. I've taken many extended trips back home and I have to say that "working efficiently for only half of their eight-hour workday" is overstating their efficiency. Socialism destroyed work ethic in Yugoslavia amongst other things. The villagers and farmers were the only ones who had any work ethic left as they…
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That reminds me of how one of my favourite memories of the Czech Republic was seeing young couples having romantic dinner dates in McDonalds. It actually took me several weeks to understand that to them the McDonalds was a special place; an affordable restaurant with an air of foreign mystique ...
Was that also in the 80's? I'm in Prague now and I don't think anyone sees McD as special. Starbucks seems to have that appeal, although I find Costa Coffee much better. But I spent May in Kyiv and they love McDonald's there. I was told it's seen as a very good deal.
Just to be clear, 95% of people sitting at McDonalds would just be eating their schlep, while these couples would sit starry eyed between them.
Also, if you're talking about Prague: that's not Czech Republic as many Czechs like to say ... it's a different world all unto itself.
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New Zealand (and probably many other nations) provides a system similar to this where you either have a job and earn as much as you're able (based on negotiating skill and to some extent actual job skill) or you are unemployed and receive a benefit which is supposed to cover your basic living costs. Without defrauding the system, you are better off getting a job as it provides you with a better income. Despite this,…
>Somebody who hasn't worked in a year should be sent to a labour camp until they decide to find better employment. Considering recent trends, now seems like the last time you would want to lock people into wage slavery. On top of that, in a situation like now where you have tons more hands than jobs to make use of them, this policy seems like it would only exasperate the situation in times of economic repression. Thi…
There's nothing wrong with being a freelancer, or deliberately homeless, or simply taking a break from work in order to pursue your own projects or goals. However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year or more) then I think it's fair for the government to say "from now you work for NZ, or relinquish your benefit".
It's unreasonable to burden society just because you're lazy and unmotivated
The ridiculous utopia portrayed in Manna would be nicer, of course, but we aren't there yet. Right now everything has a cost, including lazy beneficiaries, corrupt politicians and jaw-droppingly stupid government projects. I can't see any way to fix those problems but I am allowed to hope for a world where one day we can
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>Somebody who hasn't worked in a year should be sent to a labour camp until they decide to find better employment. Considering recent trends, now seems like the last time you would want to lock people into wage slavery. On top of that, in a situation like now where you have tons more hands than jobs to make use of them, this policy seems like it would only exasperate the situation in times of economic repression. Thi…
Is asking people to contribute to society really comparable to the Bad Future? Having read your link, I would say it's more akin to rules 8 and 9 of the 4GC There's nothing wrong with being a freelancer, or deliberately homeless, or simply taking a break from work in order to pursue your own projects or goals. However, if you choose to claim a benefit and do so for an extended period (i.e. >60% of the time for a year…
That's a little different, and more reasonable.
And yes, I mainly linked that story for the Dystopia part.
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That just can't work. Imagine every Ferrari worker being able to afford a Ferrari. What would that mean for a price of a Ferrari, eh? The price would have to go up, and then the wages, and then the prices and so on.
My statement wasn't meant as a general argument, but was just referring to this specific case - namely, inexpensive fast food. In order for the comparison between American and Yugoslavian work ethic to hold, you'd have to lower the American salaries to the point where they cannot afford McDonald's food. Let's see how that impacts their productivity.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=zF... :)
I didn't get the connection. What would that be?