Shaming the bottom-feeders.

[Mouthwash]

There are probably plenty of us who work ourselves half to death, pay a huge chunk of our hard-earned money to Uncle Sam, then still have to deal with the notion that there is a huge population of people who don't work at all and yet receive all the necessities of life that we have to sweat and bleed for. They seem to think, interestingly enough, that they "deserve" those things.

I want to hear opinions on the following proposal:

All sources of relief for non-taxpaying individuals (free health care, places that accept food stamps, government housing, etc.) should have constant reminders as to how much money they are taking from taxpayers, or how much they save by being on programs that place the burden on taxpayers. They should also be encouraged to send public messages of thanks to society whenever they punch in their food stamp benefits card, or thank taxpayers for the government funded housing they live in. This should serve as a wake-up call to the less appreciative leechers and motivate them to do better.

Thoughts?

Moderator Action: This is a pure troll thread. Trolling OT with this kind of thing qualifies as "being a jerk."
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

My thought is that you're a child who's never paid taxes in his life, and judging at least by your schooling, have used less taxpayer-funded things than most people.

 

[Cutlass]

A better idea is a basic living income that is given to anyone who asks, no questions asked.

 

[Mouthwash]

My thought is that you're a child who's never paid taxes in his life.

Are you defending the extortion and greed of the lower classes, dear Cheezy? If so, you'll probably want to add something that people would recognize as an argument.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Great idea. Let's make the welfare system even more degrading and humiliating to its victims than it already is.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Are you defending the extortion and greed of the lower classes, dear Cheezy?

Yes. Yes I am.

 

[Mouthwash]

A better idea is a basic living income that is given to anyone who asks, no questions asked.

Why? Why should those of us who earn our living fork it out to those who can't, making them permanently and catastrophically dependent on raping our capital stocks to make ends meet rather than putting in any kind of effort?

 

[Cutlass]

Are you defending the extortion and greed of the lower classes, dear Cheezy? If so, you'll probably want to add something that people would recognize as an argument.

All the extortion and greed in the American system comes from the top. There is essentially no one in America just milking the system from the bottom.

 

[Mouthwash]

Great idea. Let's make the welfare system even more degrading and humiliating to its victims.

Its victims deserve thanks for their hard-earned cash being ruthlessly siphoned away by the impoverished hordes.

 

[bhsup]

I think it is a horrible idea overall. People legitimately needing a hand up don't need to be smacked on the hand first.

That said, I do have issues with trying to call things other than what they are, like the EITC not being properly called welfare. Fine, use it, and let those deserving avail themselves of it, but call it what it is and not an earned income credit.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I wonder what it would take to shame the far-right home-schooled kids into having any sense of compassion for their fellow man.

 

[Mouthwash]

All the extortion and greed in the American system comes from the top. There is essentially no one in America just milking the system from the bottom.

We haven't seen the light yet, have we? May I recommend The Fountainhead?

Or would you care to provide any evidence for your empty assertion?

 

[Cutlass]

We haven't seen the light yet, have we? May I recommend The Fountainhead?

Or would you care to provide any evidence for your empty assertion?

Seen the light of what? Rabid sociopathy?

 

[Goodfella]

May I recommend The Fountainhead?

Are you seriously recommending an Ayn Rand book?

 

[Borachio]

There are probably plenty of us who work ourselves half to death, pay a huge chunk of our hard-earned money to Uncle Sam, then still have to deal with the notion that there is a huge population of people who don't work at all and yet receive all the necessities of life that we have to sweat and bleed for. They seem to think, interestingly enough, that they "deserve" those things.

Oh, I get it. The "plenty of us who work ourselves half to death etc" are the lumpen proletariat. And the "huge population who don't work at all and yet receive all the necessities of life [to excess] etc" are those who inherit their wealth or just sit on boards every now and again. How many millionaires are there in the US, again?

Yep. You're a communist.

I want to hear opinions on the following proposal:

All sources of relief for non-taxpaying individuals (free health care, places that accept food stamps, government housing, etc.) should have constant reminders as to how much money they are taking from taxpayers, or how much they save by being on programs that place the burden on taxpayers. They should also be encouraged to send public messages of thanks to society whenever they punch in their food stamp benefits card draw their dividends, or thank taxpayers for the government funded housing they live in defence industry etc, they leech their millions from. This should serve as a wake-up call to the less appreciative leechers and motivate them to do better.

Thoughts?

Non-taxpaying individuals, and presumably multinational corporations, refers to this extremely wealthy class too. They simply don't pay any taxes and don't do any meaningful work.

Yes, Mr Mouthwash, sir, I'm with you on this. 100% (with very little amendation). Nice work!

 

[Mouthwash]

Seen the light of what? Rabid sociopathy?

Essentially.

Actually, all I asked was that people on welfare show their thanks to those they take the resources away from. Not endorsing anything else. Why is that so controversial?

 

[Arwon]

There are probably plenty of us who work ourselves half to death, pay a huge chunk of our hard-earned money to Uncle Sam, then still have to deal with the notion that there is a huge population of people who don't work at all and yet receive all the necessities of life that we have to sweat and bleed for. They seem to think, interestingly enough, that they "deserve" those things.

I want to hear opinions on the following proposal:

All sources of relief for non-taxpaying individuals (free health care, places that accept food stamps, government housing, etc.) should have constant reminders as to how much money they are taking from taxpayers, or how much they save by being on programs that place the burden on taxpayers. They should also be encouraged to send public messages of thanks to society whenever they punch in their food stamp benefits card, or thank taxpayers for the government funded housing they live in. This should serve as a wake-up call to the less appreciative leechers and motivate them to do better.

Thoughts?

I don't pay anything to Uncle Sam.

Well I guess I gave him 15 bucks as an entry tax in June.

 

[Mouthwash]

Are you seriously recommending an Ayn Rand book?

Yeppers.

Oh, I get it. The "plenty of us who work ourselves half to death etc" are the lumpen proletariat. And the "huge population who don't work at all and yet receive all the necessities of life [to excess] etc" are those who inherit their wealth or just sit on boards every now and again. How many millionaires are there in the US, again?

Yep. You're a communist.



Non-taxpaying individuals, and presumably multinational corporations, refers to this extremely wealthy class too. They simply don't pay any taxes and don't do any meaningful work.

Yes, Mr Mouthwash, sir, I'm with you on this. 100%. Nice work!

You got it.

 

[El_Machinae]

No, shaming people using welfare is not a good idea. It's not constructive, it doesn't motivate people to improve their situation. You're applying a common sense idea, but I don't believe that the behavioural economics data support shaming.

The problem, specifically, is the way the government tries to 'boost' people at different income brackets. A tax break to the rich is not perceived as the same level of 'mooching' as welfare, but if it's a tax break that's being allowed in order to benefit the cohort or to lead to some social benefit, then it is (effectively) a handout.

I know, it's a tough perception issue to overcome, but it really is a perception bias that makes us 'bitter' towards the poor who we've created support systems for.

 

[downtown]

10/10 great thread. Would recommend.