Post #2814747

@gregatron5@vmst.io I could swear I read something nearly identical years ago, but I can't find it anymore. Very frustrating, because without being able to find it I'm not sure if I've read this same person's earlier work or if he's blatantly ripping off someone else. (I'd also prefer to cite and share the version that doesn't use phrases like "I'll wait. You can't." They really grate on me.) Anyway, yes, fully agree! I feel strongly that everyone should be secure in some basic standard of living, including the dignity of not being micromanaged and judged (means-tested). I think it's important to challenge the assumption that anyone needs to deserve these things. For one thing, human rights don't have to be earned, and I think there's a strong case to be made that physical and psychological wellness (1) are human rights and (2) are not universally accessible in a system with means testing. When we try to optimize for rewarding effort, virtue, skill, or compliance, the component of judgement introduces profound negative consequences. We have to be okay with some people not doing whatever we'd like to require they do, no matter how reasonable we think the requirements are. If we can manage that shift in mindset, we have so many more beautiful possibilities.