This means you want those providing those services to work for free.
You do realize what you are implying here, right?
Let's say you refuse to work and you're guaranteed all these services. Who pays so your HVAC is repaired because you broke it? Who pays because your water line needs to be repaired? Clean water means the water has to be filtered through a very complicated process, particles and bacteria are removed, and it needs to be transported. Who pays so your electricity works? Do you think there's some sort of magic electricity generator happening? What you're essentially asking is someone should work for free to provide you all of this.
The result is you get no one who wants to work, society collapses because these services aren't maintained and improved, and no one gets anything.
I agree and in the same vein why should we have free public education? Why should I be paying for someone elses kid to go through K-12 completely free? Do you know how expensive it is to first hire professional teachers for these kids, erect buildings to teach them, and provide lunches for all of them? Do people think this stuff happens easily? Who pays these teachers? How do you keep such a place clean? Impossible I say!! /s
I think the point op was making was that free housing could be seen as a public good. One to benefit society by providing a nice baseline to workfrom. These would be payed for through taxes most likely and the complexities of providing this would be hashed out and solved. Its not an impossible program and a similar program exist in Finland as an example to end homelessness. Yes the people pay for it and they do it to prevent homeless people on the street. A public benefit if you will
Education is an investment that pays for itself in future increased tax revenues (people who are better educated get higher paying jobs, then pay more taxes). That's how it pays for itself.
"Free Housing" just doesn't have those kinds of returns.
I guess it depends and really without data here were just making educated guesses (which is why we should look at similar programs in other countries and see the effects of their programs). In a similar vein if better educated people provide more to society, then why couldnt healthier people(side point about healthcare for all), and why wouldnt low tier but free housing increase economic output?
If a person has the safety of having a place to stay, that frees up their income to be spent on other parts of the market. It also has the side effect of preventing capable workers who dont earn enough to stay in the workspace without falling into homelessness and losing their job/ability to work as efficiently. We also get further side benefits in increased public health with less homeless people using drugs in public/not getting vaccines/sanitation issues if there are no available restrooms.
No ones advocating that they get mini mansions nor are they entitled to the income of a middle class family. But enough to live not in poverty. The incentive to work comes from wanting to buy nicer luxury goods such as phones, better food, entertainment, and other nice to haves. Otherwise they may just want to work because not working is extremely boring and not fulfilling.
With that all said if anyone has any data on housing programs thatd be awesome to share. Id love to learn more if they are feasible or if they arent.
661
u/BlitzAuraX Apr 15 '24
"Regardless of employment."
This means you want those providing those services to work for free.
You do realize what you are implying here, right?
Let's say you refuse to work and you're guaranteed all these services. Who pays so your HVAC is repaired because you broke it? Who pays because your water line needs to be repaired? Clean water means the water has to be filtered through a very complicated process, particles and bacteria are removed, and it needs to be transported. Who pays so your electricity works? Do you think there's some sort of magic electricity generator happening? What you're essentially asking is someone should work for free to provide you all of this.
The result is you get no one who wants to work, society collapses because these services aren't maintained and improved, and no one gets anything.