Post: #51

The sad fact is that automation makes redundant much of the workforce and the majority of jobs these days, particularly in the public sector, are pointless except for providing another form of welfare that's (barely) worked for.

Hence the 6 hour work day seeming to make sense. It's just another straw on the back of the socialist camel, which might be reasonable if we weren't in competition with other nations that don't have such egalitarian ideals.

What we're seeing is not an abundance of pointless jobs. It's an abundance of pointless people.

The elites have a plan in place to solve this problem and it's not pretty. Personally, I don't have a humanitarian solution to automation making most humans redundant. Sometimes there are simply no good solutions.

Post: #52

"Hence the 6 hour work day seeming to make sense. It's just another straw on the back of the socialist camel, which might be reasonable if we weren't in competition with other nations that don't have such egalitarian ideals."

That's what trade barriers are for. Make Sweden great again!
That said, I don't see any reason why a six hour day is particularly more socialist than an 8-hour one.

Post: #53

(08-14-2016 07:04 AM)nomadbrah Wrote:  This is socialism by another name. Most people with jobs that matter already work far more than 8 hours a day for no pay. Good luck staffing hospitals with doctors and nurses who only work 6 hours. The people who will benefit are women in public sector office jobs who already don't have any real work to do for more than 1-2 hours a day.

It's not a blanket regulation that says "all employers must institute 6 hour days or be punished". It's a fad sweeping the country that a lot of employers are jumping on to. Those who feel the need to keep longer days can do that.

Post: #54

I can see how this may work if your job is "achievement based" e.g. sell this many widgets.

If it is time based, however, it isn't going to e.g. working in a restaurant.


I'm a great believer in working smart not hard but realise that it's not possible for everyone. I find Americans' obsession with hours worked as the barometer of success to be odd, even if it works for them.

Post: #55

(08-14-2016 10:11 AM)Mage Wrote:  Obviously I oversimplified some things to have some brevity.

The point is each country has some good points and bad points, America has many good points, like liberty of speech and bear arms but workaholism is not one of them in my opinion.

European countries, including the Scandinavian countries, once enjoyed superior standards of living (maybe 20 years ago), but in the last decade or so, they all have fallen far behind the US. Now that Europe is collapsing, the downward trend will accelerate. There's been a small, but cumulatively substantial, difference in various measures of growth since the mid-1990s. Western Europe has no poverty like you see in the US, but the median standard of living it lower.

Which model is 'better' is a matter of perspective. As someone who divides their time pretty much evenly between North America, Europe and Asia - the US is a much better place to be an entrepreneur, and its much better to be a worker drone, or unemployed, in Europe. Someone who makes more than $150k a year lives much better in the US than in Germany, Italy or Spain. Asia (or itineracy) is probably the best place to be a business owner.

To someone who loves what they do, or is looking to build up a business - things like the 6 hour work day are not at all desirable. And for the little people, the lazy, or to someone who has no ambition to make a lot of money, labor laws are all godsends. It's all a matter of priorities.

Here is nice video that does a good job talking about how Scandinavia's 'superiority' is now a myth.
https://youtu.be/D0hnA341AWE

Post: #56

(08-15-2016 12:27 AM)Walker Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 07:04 AM)nomadbrah Wrote:  This is socialism by another name. Most people with jobs that matter already work far more than 8 hours a day for no pay. Good luck staffing hospitals with doctors and nurses who only work 6 hours. The people who will benefit are women in public sector office jobs who already don't have any real work to do for more than 1-2 hours a day.

It's not a blanket regulation that says "all employers must institute 6 hour days or be punished". It's a fad sweeping the country that a lot of employers are jumping on to. Those who feel the need to keep longer days can do that.

It's 6 hours at the same salary yes?

That means important jobs will still be 8-10 hours and non important primarily female jobs will be 6 hours.

Post: #57

(08-15-2016 06:57 AM)Lance Blastoff Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 10:11 AM)Mage Wrote:  Obviously I oversimplified some things to have some brevity.

The point is each country has some good points and bad points, America has many good points, like liberty of speech and bear arms but workaholism is not one of them in my opinion.

European countries, including the Scandinavian countries, once enjoyed superior standards of living (maybe 20 years ago), but in the last decade or so, they all have fallen far behind the US. Now that Europe is collapsing, the downward trend will accelerate. There's been a small, but cumulatively substantial, difference in various measures of growth since the mid-1990s. Western Europe has no poverty like you see in the US, but the median standard of living it lower.

Which model is 'better' is a matter of perspective. As someone who divides their time pretty much evenly between North America, Europe and Asia - the US is a much better place to be an entrepreneur, and its much better to be a worker drone, or unemployed, in Europe. Someone who makes more than $150k a year lives much better in the US than in Germany, Italy or Spain. Asia (or itineracy) is probably the best place to be a business owner.

To someone who loves what they do, or is looking to build up a business - things like the 6 hour work day are not at all desirable. And for the little people, the lazy, or to someone who has no ambition to make a lot of money, labor laws are all godsends. It's all a matter of priorities.

Here is nice video that does a good job talking about how Scandinavia's 'superiority' is now a myth.
https://youtu.be/D0hnA341AWE

These are great points. However, I would say "poverty" is matter of perspective as well.

Id also argue some US poverty is also cultural as well, but nevermind that for now.

For example:

US poor person.
-Lives in rural area, or inner city
-Lives in 1200 sq ft home (poor housing laws in the US)
-Household has one car, and maybe a driveway or at least a parking spot. Pays $.50 a liter for gas.
-Taxes are lower
-Has directv (cable)
-Lives in a more modern home
-Health care isnt perfect by no means, but contrary to popular belief, there is tons of welfare in the USA.

European poor person
-lives in suburbs or outskirts of the city
-lives in small apartment
-better access to public services and public transportation
-no drug war
-no car
-better housing laws, (far more small apartments built in Europe)
-high taxes
-more vacation time

Post: #58

^^Poverty in Africa

no car
no electricity
no shelter
no running water
no welfare
old clothes
one meal a day
one cellphone without internet or camera
drug war in filthy crime infested shit hole
dust roads