A special problem we have in Canada, and I know we're not unique, is
the division of responsibilities under our constitution. The federal
government is responsible for some things, the provinces for others. Too
many people at the table to get an easy agreement. Thank God we have a
large voluntary sector that actually does things while our two levels of
government wrangle themselves into stalemates!
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 3:19 PM
Subject: RE: [Futurework] FW Basic Income
sites
I think Ed's posting covers why it is affordable. But we may not be
socially ready for BI. We are used to taking from the pot but not giving
back. My fear is that BI will only accentuate taking and not giving.
It may not be a good idea, in my view, since we have yet to
educate/socialize people understand that they are part of society and that
while society is responsible to them with BI, they are also connected to and
involved with society such that they are expected to give back to society.
Blame on too many years of "smash and grab" consumerism/capitalism or
"bowling alone" or what have you.
arthur
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 12:50 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [Futurework] FW Basic Income sites
Arthur Cordell wrote:
> I think similar criticisms were levelled against the minimum wage, child
> labour laws, old age security, medicare, etc.
>
> Same old, same old. Can't afford it today. Wait. Wait. Someday.
>
> Rubbish.
Being in favor of the minimum wage(*), child labour laws, old age security,
medicare, etc., but opposed to BI, I think there's a fundamental difference
between the former and the latter: BI is of the "perpetuum mobile" kind.
(not in the sense that BI works forever but that it won't work at all)
It would be a pity if name-calling ("rubbish") and misrepresentation of
my arguments ("can't afford it today" -- no, can't afford it tomorrow
either!) would be the only "arguments" of Arthur in reply to my posting
and BI-example ($1.2 billion) of 13-Dec-03. Let's hear some good
arguments (if possible with numbers) please... [if there are any]
(*) Btw, I was informed that a Canadian province has reduced the
minimum wage from $8 to $6 (Can.). For comparison, it's about $15 in
Switzerland. I guess that's why a Swiss emigré mechanic recently
had to return from Canada to work for 6 weeks here, and with the money
he earned he can live for 5 months in Canada with his whole family.
So Arthur, perhaps Industry Canada should introduce a _livable_
minimum wage for _workers_ first, before you fancy about an
unaffordable BI for everyone being "affordable".
Chris
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SpamWall: Mail to this addy is deleted unread unless it contains the keyword
"igve".
_______________________________________________
Futurework mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
_______________________________________________
Futurework mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://scribe.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
