Thanks for this post! I have always been annoyed when on Reddit or even here, the response to poverty always goes back to, “but poor people have cell phones!” It all comes down to freedom—the amount of meaningfully distinct actions one person can take in the world to accomplish their goals. If there are few real alternatives, and one’s best options all involve working until exhaustion, it is not true freedom.
I agree, the poverty restoring equilibrium is more complex than probably UBI—maybe it’s part of Moloch. I think the rents increasing by the UBI amount has something to do with demand inelasticity—people will rent the same regardless of price—so the price can rise until the breaking point once again.
Nonetheless, UBI may still help. Also, I do think there are other concrete steps that can be taken. One cannot leave a horrible job for several reasons: (a) health insurance, (b) having a place to live, (c) having food, (d) school & giving children their best chance; but each of these can be tackled one by one. It may not solve the problem once and for all, but good quality public education (not funded by zip code), universal health insurance, and an adequate supply of housing, are all steps towards reducing the bottleneck imposed by one resource at a time.
The bottom line in my personal philosophy is this—take direct actions against those forces of poverty and Moloch. If there are unintended consequences, take direct action against them. Propose policy, and try them out. Cynicism about any interventions working, is really wishful thinking by the wealthy elites. It’s not coordinated, as you say. They want to believe the systems we have are really the best we can do, because what we have makes them powerful. Acknowledging the possibility that there is a better way would be uncomfortable for them both financially and psychologically!
Thanks for this post! I have always been annoyed when on Reddit or even here, the response to poverty always goes back to, “but poor people have cell phones!” It all comes down to freedom—the amount of meaningfully distinct actions one person can take in the world to accomplish their goals. If there are few real alternatives, and one’s best options all involve working until exhaustion, it is not true freedom.
I agree, the poverty restoring equilibrium is more complex than probably UBI—maybe it’s part of Moloch. I think the rents increasing by the UBI amount has something to do with demand inelasticity—people will rent the same regardless of price—so the price can rise until the breaking point once again.
Nonetheless, UBI may still help. Also, I do think there are other concrete steps that can be taken. One cannot leave a horrible job for several reasons: (a) health insurance, (b) having a place to live, (c) having food, (d) school & giving children their best chance; but each of these can be tackled one by one. It may not solve the problem once and for all, but good quality public education (not funded by zip code), universal health insurance, and an adequate supply of housing, are all steps towards reducing the bottleneck imposed by one resource at a time.
The bottom line in my personal philosophy is this—take direct actions against those forces of poverty and Moloch. If there are unintended consequences, take direct action against them. Propose policy, and try them out. Cynicism about any interventions working, is really wishful thinking by the wealthy elites. It’s not coordinated, as you say. They want to believe the systems we have are really the best we can do, because what we have makes them powerful. Acknowledging the possibility that there is a better way would be uncomfortable for them both financially and psychologically!