‘In fact mankind is hard-wired to write poetry, play music and nurture plants’
Perhaps, but only one in a million is hard-wired to write good poetry, or to play music at a level where others might be prepared to pay to listen. Somebody has to produce the food for tens of millions of people, keep the sewers running, clean the streets etc. Already in the US farmers are destroying food due to the lockdown. There won’t be much poetry written when people have no food.
As for UBI, it is one of the most dangerous and insane ideas ever propounded.
Why does the poetry have to be good? Or the music be listenable? It is the creative journey that is important. Or perhaps the output is not very good at first, but becomes joyous and original given the opportunity to flourish.
UBI is dangerous and insane for proprietors of businesses doing stuff that shouldn’t be done, and governments who think ‘the economy’ is something that really exists, or that infinite growth on a finite planet makes any sense at all. For folk who just want to live their lives well, and enjoy the best things in life (which, as you might have heard, are free anyway), it makes a whole lot of sense. Let’s remember that the planet gave us all a UBI before the commons was taken from us.
People want, and need, good food, clean streets, sanitary conditions. I’m certain we can have faith in communities to ensure these things happen, regardless of the underlying economic system.
jdcharlwood
4 years ago
illich points out that the real transition came when people stopped working for themselves and started selling their labour. personally I have been pursuing that life style for many many years. as Thoroeau points out a man is rich when his needs are few.
‘In fact mankind is hard-wired to write poetry, play music and nurture plants’
Perhaps, but only one in a million is hard-wired to write good poetry, or to play music at a level where others might be prepared to pay to listen. Somebody has to produce the food for tens of millions of people, keep the sewers running, clean the streets etc. Already in the US farmers are destroying food due to the lockdown. There won’t be much poetry written when people have no food.
As for UBI, it is one of the most dangerous and insane ideas ever propounded.
Why does the poetry have to be good? Or the music be listenable? It is the creative journey that is important. Or perhaps the output is not very good at first, but becomes joyous and original given the opportunity to flourish.
UBI is dangerous and insane for proprietors of businesses doing stuff that shouldn’t be done, and governments who think ‘the economy’ is something that really exists, or that infinite growth on a finite planet makes any sense at all. For folk who just want to live their lives well, and enjoy the best things in life (which, as you might have heard, are free anyway), it makes a whole lot of sense. Let’s remember that the planet gave us all a UBI before the commons was taken from us.
People want, and need, good food, clean streets, sanitary conditions. I’m certain we can have faith in communities to ensure these things happen, regardless of the underlying economic system.
illich points out that the real transition came when people stopped working for themselves and started selling their labour. personally I have been pursuing that life style for many many years. as Thoroeau points out a man is rich when his needs are few.