@Luke73

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@Luke73

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@BlueVeins Why would there be now then? And besides you have things like minimum wage for example that help.

@Luke73 Because right now for people making bad wages, they still get more money if they work more than if they work less. Like if I only make $800 a month at my shitass job, that's still preferable to making $600 or $400.

@BlueVeins There are two options then. Either they like working there, that would mean that they'd continue too. Or they have no other option but given the option, rather would do something else.

@Blondily Me too!

@MayorOfCrushtown And the only way to make it affordable for everyone is to make it free.

@Luke73 just tell me who i need to write to. LOL

@MayorOfCrushtown The politian of your choice, activists that want to change something, your local organizations that help with food or other do other voluntary work.

@jshm2 Of course they cost money but more fortunate people should support less fortunate ones in a society.

@joe438 I mean profit can be a motivation, I agree, but profit isn't a justification for bad things. I'd make a big profit if I force people to work for me in inhumane conditions. Is it ethical? No. Does it happen? Too much in the name of profit.

Your comment made me chuckle. So you're saying the US is a good example for a government letting people live their lives without interfering much? Have you seen the news lately?

@Luke73 Lots of companies will share their profits with others in society - not all, but many. They will crow about giving back, but that's fine.

Can you name a country that has less overall restriction? Australia restricts guns and has more limitations on speech than the US - most recently is the clamping down on social media to protect kids. Not necessarily a bad thing, but there it is. The UK is much more strict on permitted speech, and of course the EU has the DSA. Germany and Italy rank among the best on the nanny state indices but still below the U.S. Switzerland is the highest ranked in terms of personal freedoms in many ratings. They protect human rights with a web of severe laws for being discriminatory or racist which is kind interesting in itself. No free housing though, and no free food that I can find reference to. They try, like some in the U.S. do, to provide the most affordable housing they can muster.

We're way off topic at this point. I do like your premise that we should be kind to each other and help out, but can that also go along with having no one try and cheat the system and steal?

@joe438 Well if a company gives a million in charity but earns billions in revenue each year, do they really share their profit? It's a thousand of what they make, so...

Having no restrictions isn't the same as freedom. Freedom isn't just about the things you can do but also about not having to worry about something. And you can't tell me the US is a good place to be especially now... it's taken gigantic steps back from being a free country.

And the biggest problem isn't the people trying to take advantage of the social security system, it's the big corporations that control the system. That's not a democracity anymore.

@FreddieUK The greed for most people only comes from the capitalism, the fear of not having security but if you knew that all of your basic needs are cared for, then you wouldn't need that.

@Luke73 I'd like to agree, but I'm afraid it's a basic human trait and you'd be hard pushed to find me a system where there is not a rich elite either at the top, or hiding in the background manipulating some puppets. I believe it is possible to modify greedy instincts and the Nordic countries were quite good at that until recently. Compared to the US, much of Europe is ahead in its regulation of the worst excesses, but there is always the pressure from right wing forces to deregulate.

@FreddieUK I agree, that is a problem still. But that's something, like you said, that need to be controlled. That's one of the basic pillars of democracy, that people in power should be checked and held accountable.

@Jane90 I hope so!

@1490wayb So why not also lower the prices of other things instead of just raising wages, which of course is a good thing but there are also other tools.

@Luke73 that is called stagflation and a horrible to live thru...the major problem is GREED which cannot be controlled by law or government

@1490wayb I think you're actually wrong. For example with rents there are many areas where there's a maximum rent and the idea works.

@Luke73 about affordable housing programs? teh government get builders to offer affordable housing units as a condition to letting them build complexes and stuff. in NJ at least. in Boston they called them the Projects. Theyr ejust like condo units that are more affordable to buy but you have to be on alist to get into them and have the money when your name comes up to buy into one. i think thats how it is. The boston ones might have been rentals. im not sure.

eta- youhave to qualify as low income to get on the list

@Penny There are similar schemes in the UK.

@Penny I don't know about different programs in different parts of the world. But I think it is a good step in the right direction to make housing more affordable.

@saragoodtimes We as a society. I think it’s only fair if the more fortunate ones support the less fortunate ones. No one can choose in what living situation they grew up in.

@saragoodtimes they can just print more money

@Jane90 No it doesn't. It is paid for by everyone who pays tax. It's free at the point of delivery.

@FreddieUK 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

@Jane90 a colleague at the university lived in the UK until recently and said the wait times for appointments was horrible and the Care was rushed. I don’t know if things have improved in the last year, but she couldn’t wait to get over here where you can make an appointment with a doctor and generally get in within a week or two.

@gregloa I never said anything about people not working. My point is that all people should have equal chances, that people's work get rewarded. And what does it have to do with Americans?

@pdockal I never said that you specifically should pay more taxes.

@pdockal the top 10% income earners pay over 70% of all tax dollars. our school and property taxes are over $40,000 a year. it's going up 8% this year. waiting on the bill

@saragoodtimes

First property tax isn't based on income
It's based on the value of the property
Second most rich don't pay their share because of the deductions & how they earn their money

The middle class foots most of the taxes

If you want equity then you need a flat tax with no deductions