Disability Fraud Fallout in Appalachia

[de officiis]

Interesting article about what happens when a concerned politician starts an investigation of disability fraud and discovers a crooked lawyer, a crooked judge, and crooked docs. The result--the cash is cut off, producing suicides and mass desperation.

Attorney made millions off disability claims; former clients on the brink after government yanks funds

[Martin Hash]

Disability fraud is an example of Basic Income/National Dividend working its way into society.

"A nation can only last until its production is overcome by its consumption." - me

[Martin Hash]

I've been thinking a lot about Basic Income since I've been traveling through Communist nations, plus it's getting a lot of wind in the U.S. I'm still totally against creating a new Right of receipt that somebody else is responsible to pay, that's about as anti-liberty as it gets, but the thought experiment is still worth considering.

What if there was a Star Trek replicator that was publicly owned & free to operate? How would that work out?

[KerningChameleon]

What if there was a Star Trek replicator that was publicly owned & free to operate? How would that work out?

There would be immediate calls to destroy and ban it. That's the sort of things that destroys people's livelihoods, and even if it's a net gain in the long-term, luddism always has its say first.

If the oil-powered automobile was being invented now, forums such as these would be filled with arguments about how economically unfeasible and ridiculously unreliable and unsafe the prototypes being showcased are compared to the perfectly good, sensibly-speeded horse-and-buggys we have now, thank you very much, and exactly what is your plan for dealing with all the whip craftsmen you're proposing putting completely out of business, hmmm?

[Hanarchy Montanarchy]

Jesus, is it me, or is a lawyer called Eric Conn as perfect a Dickensian name as you could want for this story?

[Martin Hash]

What if there was a Star Trek replicator that was publicly owned & free to operate? How would that work out?

There would be immediate calls to destroy and ban it. That's the sort of things that destroys people's livelihoods, and even if it's a net gain in the long-term, luddism always has its say first.

Agree, but the Ludds usually get beat. (Watch this space for the battle against self-driving cars.) What would people do with their free time? Complain that they don't have more of it, or actually DO something?

[de officiis]

Jesus, is it me, or is a lawyer called Eric Conn as perfect a Dickensian name as you could want for this story?

This thought occurred to me as well.

[Montegriffo]

Jesus, is it me, or is a lawyer called Eric Conn as perfect a Dickensian name as you could want for this story?

This thought occurred to me as well.

Reminds me of the guy in charge of the govt legal team in the current Brexit high court case...Lord Panik
and my all time favourite, former Archbishop of Manilla.... Cardinal Sin

[jbird4049]

I've been thinking a lot about Basic Income since I've been traveling through Communist nations, plus it's getting a lot of wind in the U.S. I'm still totally against creating a new Right of receipt that somebody else is responsible to pay, that's about as anti-liberty as it gets, but the thought experiment is still worth considering.

What if there was a Star Trek replicator that was publicly owned & free to operate? How would that work out?

I listen to a podcast by Marxian economist named Richard Wolff who is against a universal guaranteed basic income, but does support guaranteed work with an adequate income. I think his reasoning is that getting something for nothing is bad for people, but there is plenty of work still out there. Pay enough to actually live, create social cohesion, and get things like those roads fixed, or more houses, or better care for the elderly.

[Martin Hash]

That's the road I'm going down, for the same reasons, and I'm certainly no Marxist.