Posted by Estella on August 8, 2006, at 20:13:18
In reply to Re: Yikes! I agree with Estella, posted by AuntieMel on August 8, 2006, at 14:48:24
> I don't think it's a right to get these things just because you don't want to work.
i don't think that either.
i think it is a right to get those things because... we are human beings. and because... we have this complex forebrain that allows us to empathise with others plights, see that they have needs as we have needs, and see that people who don't get their basic needs met... suffer. as we would if we were precisely where they are in life.i agree with what you just said, but i see it a little differently in the sense that:
> I don't think it's a right to get these things just because you don't want to work.
I don't know how many times I've heard that in my life 'I don't want to work I think I'll just go on the dole or try and get onto the sickness benefit'. Countless times. I've heard it countless times.
But now I jump up and down and get a bit excited... IMHO the million dollar question is:
Why?
Why on earth would you prefer to sit at home in front of the tv all day (which does indeed seem to be what a fair few of them do) getting a pittance that is barely enough to meet your basic needs...
Compared to doing something so that you can go on holiday and travel and buy a car and go to the movies and eat out and live in a nicer house etc etc. Why on earth would they prefer to do that?IMHO usually because... They don't believe they can do anything meaningful.
So... That is why I conclude that they need assistance to find something rather than being left to... die... or whatever. rather than relying on handouts (which can feel really very humiliating compared to a sum just being deposited weekly).
I don't think the humiliation helps them feel better about themselves and motivate them to get into a course or do charity work to build up some skills or anything. At least... I've never found humiliation to help me.
> It would actually end up costing society less in the long run.
It could do if it was well run, yeah i believe that.
But even more so... I believe in altruism and empathy... I think it would be nice to do it out of empathy rather than out of... Egoism.
I mean... Thinking we would be better off is a better reason than no reason at all... But still I want to say... They are people too. It isn't much fun living on welfare. Fairly demoralising. Really. People who plan to do that... Well I have sympathy for them because typically they are doing it because... They don't believe they are capable / worthy / able to live a more prosperous life. They don't think they CAN do anything.
poster:Estella
thread:674781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060610/msgs/675020.html