SixofNine:
.....I think everybody should be helpful where possible. But I don't think people should be forced to do so.
I do, especially policemen and firemen and air traffic controllers.
They have to be, because it's their job. They have agreed to do that under a binding contract and are therefore required to do so. Similarly, I don't think people should be forced to bring me food, unless they're waitresses.
I think 911 operators should be forced to be not just helpful, but efficient in providing that help as well. Sure, the whole fam could pitch in when little Timmy falls down the well (thanks Lassie! arf!), and sure, Bob across the street does have a kickass new winch he's been dying to try out, but I think Timmy's more likely to be happy and productive (also less dead or crippled) in the future if I call 911.
I agree. I also think that where possible, the costs of rescuing Timmy should be recouped from the person who owns the well, or from his negligent parents, or whoever is deemed responsible.
On a more serious note, abolishing the minimum wage would allow far more people to find employment.
Why? Do you mean in sweatshops, and until there are no longer buyers for their sweatshop products?
No. I mean jobs that simply aren't worth $10 dollars an hour. In the absence of cheap labour, some low-end jobs (such as dishwashing) will be replaced by machines, while some (such as grocery-bagging) will simply be dropped.
Those who work hard could then escape the poverty trap.
You mean the way people in sweatshops so often escape the poverty trap? My god man, look at your own language: "poverty trap".
It's a poverty trap because people who are currently worth less than the mandated minimum wage simply can't get a job. If they could get a job paying less, they could then gain experience allowing them to get a job that pays more. And so on. Most people's careers progress this way.
Those who are unwilling to work would likely starve.
Or they might just kill you and take your food. Most people aren't willing to starve rather than work (even if that work is stealing from you), I think this is well established fact.
There will always be people who would rather take my money than earn their own. I don't think the solution is for the government to take that money from me and give it to them.
Those who are unable could rely on the compassion of their friends, family and community.
You say that as if you've solved the worlds problems, Derek. Voila! Er, but what if those friends, family, and community have no, or not enough, compassion? A country needs happy, (but especially) productive people to thrive, and all succesful countries use a concept known as economy of scale to find ways to produce those happy productive people.
I don't think compassion should be forced on people.
More later maybe.....
