Quote:
Originally Posted by Pluto
Why isn't it possible to let everyone have what he needs without working? Will it discourage people from working at all?
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I think in the mid 80's this was given some consideration in the UK. This was the time of high unemployment and the idea was to give everyone a basic amount which would cover the basics. It would be similar to what we give on Jobseekers Allowance now - that is around £60 I think. The idea was that everyone could get it as a right and then work as they wished to get extras. It was decided it would demand too high taxes from those that worked more.
It was I think also suggested in Andre Gortz book Paths to Paradise. Again at the time of high unemployment. He saw it as the way we could move forward from a Marxist point of view.
As there were not so many jobs, he thought we could enjoy more free time for free, conscious, creative activity. Work need no longer be the main thing in our lives or if it was it could be more of this kind of activity.
I think this sort of approach would only be considered in times of high unemployment and probably from people who believed in what I believe are the more spiritual aspects of Marxist's work.
The idea would not be to be a couch potato but to be involved in things that your heart truly believed in.