Employment Guarantee

[Curious George]

Boy, I wanna belong to that group!
But alas, I find that the more I make, the more that I am the one propping up the system with 6 figure income taxes.
People who receive more in benefits than they pay in taxes are just along for a free ride.

Yes, this must be true. This heavy burden must be why all the rich wish they were poor and all the poor are content.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Do these people have the skills necessary to fix a bridge? Most people I know who are chronically unemployed can't weld or build concrete forms. Those tasks require actual skill and training. And what do you do with the bridge maintenance guys you just put out on the street? Bring them back at reduced pay on Workfare so society can make sure they're not unemployed?

Why not train them? The more skills you have, the more job opportunities you have. And as for infrastructure in America, is has been so horribly neglected that there won't be any shortage of work from repairing it any time soon.

 

[Brickjectivity]

I have not recommended pointless work-- quite the opposite. I paraphrased Keynes because even pointless work is probably better than no work at all if one is on the dole. And what could be more pointless than sitting around and doing nothing while collecting u.e. or welfare. Mentally or physically handicapped are the exception to the rule, of course.

When I look at the conditions of our major cities, for example, there's a lot of work that could be done. Whether it be cleanup, helping the elderly and handicapped, minor repairs on homes for the poor, etc. In the Detroit area, for example, it's hard to tell the difference between a garbage dump and our expressways. Some inner-city lots are just places for dumping. Rivers and streams can be cleaned up.

So, instead of just doling out checks and getting nothing in return, why not employ those who cannot find a job. It helps them and it helps society. When they find a better job, then they're free to switch.

I'm inclined to agree, and if the free market can't compete with that I'll be very surprised.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yes, this must be true. This heavy burden must be why all the rich wish they were poor and all the poor are content.

Oh, no....that wasn't my point....which was that the poor really don't contribute.
I pay far more in taxes than I get from government in return.

I'm looking forward to being despised for how much wealth I have.
(I already am to some extent, but not nearly enuf.)

 

[Thief]

We're not there yet. If we could create machines, robots to do all the work...

Sounds great but it'd probably be the death of mankind. The need to struggle for survival maybe the only real motivation we have.

We ARE there.
I'm a toolmaker.
40+yrs hands-on experience.
There millions of jobs gone.....forever....
we can't go back.

 

[Thief]

If government adopts the Robin Hood approach, there will be unintended consequences.....
A great majority of us in business (you know....supplying housing, jobs, food, etc) will just retire on the dole.

Hey, that's starting to sound pretty good....
I gotta get my Social Security application in today!

You'll end up eating nothing but haggis...the rest of your days.

 

[Curious George]

Lol no one despises you for your wealth, but your notions that the wealthy keep the wheels turning while the poor get a free ride is balderdash.

 

[Revoltingest]

You'll end up eating nothing but haggis...the rest of your days.

If they rob me to give to the poor, the result is the same.
At least on the dole, I won't have to work or invest anything.

 

[Curious George]

Lol no one despises you for your wealth, but your notions that the wealthy keep the wheels turning while the poor get a free ride is balderdash.

@Revoltingest This was supposed to quote you. I tried to reply but bad cell service prevented that it seems.

 

[Revoltingest]

Lol no one despises you for your wealth, but your notions that the wealthy keep the wheels turning while the poor get a free ride is balderdash.

Politics is rife with class envy & derision because it works.
As for the wealthy being needed....yes, they fund most of what goes on.
The poor pay little in taxes, & consume much in benefit.
It's a harsh & discomforting fact, which is why it's so often denied.
But....
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fi...ts/49440-Distribution-of-Income-and-Taxes.pdf

 

[Thief]

If they rob me to give to the poor, the result is the same.
At least on the dole, I won't have to work or invest anything.

I've seen three suits behind a podium on tv....making the explanation.
At inception.....16 people paid into ss....one person drew benefits.
Now...2people pay in.....one pulls...

Do we need to revamp the eligibility line?
It looks that way.
but then you have to consider.....how many jobs can YOU create?

I've heard by radio....300,000 per MONTH....to maintain the status quo.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I pay far more in taxes than I get from government in return.

You get police, fire fighters, roads, military, you and your kids went to school - we get far more out of our taxes than what most people realize.

 

[Thief]

Politics is rife with class envy & derision because it works.
As for the wealthy being needed....yes, they fund most of what goes on.
The poor pay little in taxes, & consume much in benefit.
It's a harsh & discomforting fact, which is why it's so often denied.
But....
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fi...ts/49440-Distribution-of-Income-and-Taxes.pdf

Reminder.....
I the past 25yrs.....the top 5% multiplied their wealth five times.
8trillion to 40trillion.

Write the law that does the same for me!!!!!!

 

[Revoltingest]

You get police, fire fighters, roads, military, you and your kids went to school - we get far more out of our taxes than what most people realize.

The police here are useless.
We rarely have a fire, but that cost is covered by the horrendous property taxes I pay....not income taxes.
(Note: Commercial properties are assessed double the taxes of homeowners. So I pay for the education of an entire neighborhood of ankle biters.)
The military is wasted on useless counter-productive foreign wars.
Education for my kids...property taxes again.
Roads....Michiganistan has the worst roads in the nation, & my town has among the worst roads in the state.
Add to this that when roads are fixed in front of my properties, I get a special assessment....taxes don't cover the cost.

People who don't pay much in taxes get for more than they realize.
But those of us who pay the lion's share get far less than we pay.
Again....
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fi...ts/49440-Distribution-of-Income-and-Taxes.pdf

 

[Revoltingest]

Reminder.....
I the past 25yrs.....the top 5% multiplied their wealth five times.
8trillion to 40trillion.
Write the law that does the same for me!!!!!!

Adjusted for devaluation of the dollar, & that's not much of a gain.

 

[Thief]

The police here are useless.
We rarely have a fire, but that's paid for by the horrendous property taxes I pay....not income taxes.
The military is wasted on useless counter-productive foreign wars.
Education for my kids...property taxes again.
Roads....Michiganistan has the worst roads in the nation, & my town has among the worst roads in the state.
Add to this that when roads are fixed in front of my properties, I get a special assessment....taxes don't cover the cost.

People who don't pay much in taxes get for more than they realize.
But those of us who pay the lion's share get far less than we pay.
Again....
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fi...ts/49440-Distribution-of-Income-and-Taxes.pdf

I like Roosevelt's approach....
allowing for inflation, I estimate....
100% anything over 250,000per yr.

 

[Thief]

Adjusted for devaluation of the dollar, & that's not much of a gain.

did you figure that on inflation?
or ripping the money with high interest rate loans?

 

[Revoltingest]

did you figure that on inflation?
or ripping the money with high interest rate loans?

Inflation is another way to say "currency devaluation".
As the dollar loses value, it takes more of them to measure the value of an asset.
So the value measured in "dollars" can increase without any increase in real economic value.

Here is an interesting site.....
Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2015

 

[Thief]

Inflation is another way to say "currency devaluation".
As the dollar loses value, it takes more of them to measure the value of an asset.
So the value measured in "dollars" can increase without any increase in value.

Here is an interesting site.....
Inflation Calculator | Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2015

Say that again as I cash my check!!!!!

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Roads....Michiganistan has the worst roads in the nation, & my town has among the worst roads in the state.

Last I heard, ya'lls legislators were considering legalizing recreation pot to use the taxes to cover road repair. It apparently didn't happen.