Something for nothing

[We Never Know]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

With all the money going to the rich, it'd be hard to have much of anything, if you aren't rich.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

There's a thing that occurred over roughly the last 500 years, at times slowly and at times rapidly, whereby the ratio of production to effort was thrown way out of balance. Your production, via modern technology, is many times greater than it is without all this modern technology. But it is hard to actually see that. But since it's hard to see, I think prices can be inflated, even when more is getting done in a cheaper way. Look at a modern pre-fab house. Why does it cost so much? Is it sturdy? No. Does it take a long time to build? No

 

[We Never Know]

With all the money going to the rich, it'd be hard to have much of anything, if you aren't rich.

Ok so you don't like the rich but you never answered one question.

Here they are again...."Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?"

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

Ok so you don't like the rich but you never answered one question.

Here they are again...."Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?"

Question 1. People should be given something for nothing to create some social equity. If you want a picture of a world without much social equity, check out the original Star Wars movies and the galaxy under the control of the Empire.

Question 2. Incentive?

Question 3. To me, it makes the most sense for those with the most fortune to foot the greatest bill, including for the classes "below" them. They'll still end up with more than the classes below them, in most cases and in most systems.

 

[Stevicus]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

I'm not sure how many people want "something for nothing." I think that may be oversimplifying it a bit. Obviously, everyone has basic human needs - food, shelter, etc. I don't know of anyone who expects "something for nothing," and most people seem to know full well they have to work for what they have.

I think what demoralizes people and makes it appear that they want "free stuff" is a general feeling that they're being cheated and exploited. That can be seen as a profound disincentive.

The only real incentive to "free stuff" is that it's better for the stability of society for the wealthy to share some of the wealth, rather than hoard it all until society reaches the breaking point. Liberals realized this more than a century ago, which is why Western societies were able to survive and remain relatively stable, while countries which believed in allowing the fewest number of people to hoard the greatest amount of wealth plunged into disarray and authoritarianism.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

There are certain things that all people should have available minimally. That is food, shelter, healthcare, an education, and police protection. These are not enough for a comfortable life, in fact anyone who goes to prison will have access to most of these things for free. If someone is homeless in the real world, might they prefer to commit a prison worthy crime for a better quality life?

What is the incentive to work, is what I believe you’re asking? To have more. Your shelter provided by taxpayers dollars may be limited to a homeless shelter, your food you don’t really get to choose. You don’t have the money to get your own tv, you don’t have the money to have a car, you don’t have the money to get stylish clothes… I would say there is still incentive for more, even if the basics for human survival are provided.

 

[Secret Chief]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

American?
Yeah free health care, free education, free use of roads, surely capitalism can put a price on everything. Why should there be any alternative economic system to free market capitalism?

 

[F1fan]

Ok so you don't like the rich but you never answered one question.

Here they are again...."Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?"

You mean like dividends from stocks? The incentive is greed. And who pays for the dividends? Usually workers as their pay is meager and their benefits are low. And many workers have few options. Opportunity requires freedom, and many in society don't have it.

 

[Viker]

We treat animals better than we treat each other. What has your pet done to deserve free food, room and board? There are humans with substance addiction, mental health issues, trapped in a vicious circles of poverty and even struggling families with children. None of them are asking for hand outs. All of them need a hand up. What is the point of calling ourselves an equal and fair nation? An incentive should be on those who can to uplift those who can not. If we want a better society then we need to pull each other closer (stop pushing each other further away). Take care of one another. This benefits nearly everyone, others, the self. Sure, a little few will take advantage of it. Guess what? A little few take advantage of it at the top of the pyramid as well.

All a cat or dog need do is be cute or play with a chew toy. Humans never prioritize other humans.

Don't get me wrong. I'm crazy about my pets. Can't live without them. But I don't want to live in a "civilization" that takes a dump on their own kind either. No one deserves a mansion unless they can afford one. Humans require shelter first and foremost. And we don't have to just give them a home. We could make a home accessable. Most people will find incentive to be productive when they have the necessities ensured. It's plain human nature to get busy body about what is at hand. No one deserves luxury or fanciful apparel unless they can afford it. Basics, shelter, food, hygiene, healthcare, etc. If they want Gucci, a Dodge Challenger and a private swimming pool.....earn that stuff.... they'll appreciate it even more and not take the more material things for granted later. I know this for myself, a once struggling working class snot rag. I don't poop on others either.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

We treat animals better than we treat each other. What has your pet done to deserve free food, room and board? There are humans with substance addiction, mental health issues, trapped in a vicious circles of poverty and even struggling families with children. None of them are asking for hand outs. All of them need a hand up. What is the point of calling ourselves an equal and fair nation? An incentive should be on those who can to uplift those who can not. If we want a better society then we need to pull each other closer (stop pushing each other further away). Take care of one another. This benefits nearly everyone, others, the self. Sure, a little few will take advantage of it. Guess what? A little few take advantage of it at the top of the pyramid as well.

All a cat or dog need do is be cute or play with a chew toy. Humans never prioritize other humans.

Don't get me wrong. I'm crazy about my pets. Can't live without them. But I don't want to live in a "civilization" that takes a dump on their own kind either. No one deserves a mansion unless they can afford one. Humans require shelter first and foremost. And we don't have to just give them a home. We could make a home accessable. Most people will find incentive to be productive when they have the necessities ensured. It's plain human nature to get busy body about what is at hand. No one deserves luxury or fanciful apparel unless they can afford it. Basics, shelter, food, hygiene, healthcare, etc. If they want Gucci, a Dodge Challenger and a private swimming pool.....earn that stuff.... they'll appreciate it even more and not take the more material things for granted later. I know this for myself, a once struggling working class snot rag. I don't poop on others either.

I mostly agree with what you said. And you said it in a great way, so hats off for that.

However, myself, I'd even take it a step further, and say that people should not only get the basic necessities, but a bit more. And if we live in a system which consumes lots of money, but says "We don't have enough for you", we should look at why that is, and what's going on to cause that.

 

[sun rise]

."Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?"

That idea comes from applying scarcity economics to everything. Do we pay to have the sun shine on us?

Not everything should be subject to being paid for.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I am not for everything being free, that just won't work. But we have found that if some of the basics of life are guaranteed it allows people to concentrate on working and getting more stuff. We all want more and better stuff. We all do better if no one is worried about paying hospital bills. Or if one is out of work paying for food. Look at the "socialist" European countries. Just about all of the citizens of western Europe have a higher standard of living on average than the US does. All of the "free" stuff that they get does not stop them from working.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Ok so you don't like the rich but you never answered one question.

Here they are again...."Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?"

Alternatively, why should people be expected to work hard all their lives and end up with nothing, because others have profited from their labour? Where's the incentive in working hard to enrich a tiny minority of plutocrats and oligarchs, who own the vast majority of the planet's accumulated wealth?

 

[Ella S.]

If I had the ability, I would make sure that everyone's physiological needs were met and that they had access to proper healthcare, including mental healthcare. The incentive is pretty simple. I want everyone to have what they need.

Unfortunately, I don't have that power. However, I am doing my best to transform what I do have into something that can benefit as many people as possible. My efficiency is probably not as high as it could be, but this is more due to the fact that I lack knowledge about how I could perform better. I am perfectly willing to do whatever it takes to get there, and I've put my life on the line more than once for this goal.

To quote John Lennon, "You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

 

[sayak83]

Many people want something for nothing.
Be it housing, education, utilities, money, insurance, etc.

Why should people be given something for nothing? Where's the incentive in that? Who pays for that?

in·cen·tive:
a thing that motivates or encourages one to do something.

The incentive to remain a law abiding citizen. Why should I honor your so called rights to property, wealth, houses etc if I get nothing in return. What is the incentive of staying in society otherwise?
In a more general note
Do you think an upright and honest law abiding person who has no economically marketable abilities is a better person for society than a skillful psychopath? If so, how would society incentivize the former over the latter?
Even more generally
A person in prison gets food and housing and even education should he want it. Why can't a free person not get even that should he want it?