So what do we do when when nobody has a job?

[Dr Strangelove]

So if we evolve into a system where only 25% or less have jobs how do we tax in order to pay for the benefits to suport the unemployed 75%?

[N35t0r]

So if we evolve into a system where only 25% or less have jobs how do we tax in order to pay for the benefits to suport the unemployed 75%?

Well, assuming total economic output remains the same (or, more likely, goes up), a flat tax rate like TMM proposed would net in the same amount of money no matter who does the production. Giving that income to the non-working 75% will allow them to continue consuming the production of the 25%, which is beneficial to both.

[Dr Strangelove]

Well, assuming total economic output remains the same (or, more likely, goes up), a flat tax rate like TMM proposed would net in the same amount of money no matter who does the production. Giving that income to the non-working 75% will allow them to continue consuming the production of the 25%, which is beneficial to both.

You're forgetting that the social welfare expenditures will have to be spread over 4 to 5 times the number of people than the number who are sustained on social welfare expenditures today. Also, who says that the employed will make so much more just because there are fewer employed? The income may mostly go to corporations. If you jack up their taxes to 90% I guarentee you that they will move their headquarters somewhere beyond your reach.

[Felch]

The income may mostly go to corporations. If you jack up their taxes to 90% I guarentee you that they will move their headquarters somewhere beyond your reach.

Where will they move? What country won't have robots?

[Sava]

Well, assuming total economic output remains the same (or, more likely, goes up), a flat tax rate like TMM proposed would net in the same amount of money no matter who does the production. Giving that income to the non-working 75% will allow them to continue consuming the production of the 25%, which is beneficial to both.

If it worked and could sustain a low employment level, I would support a flat tax.

I'm just... a bit skeptical.

[The Mad Monk]

You're forgetting that the social welfare expenditures will have to be spread over 4 to 5 times the number of people than the number who are sustained on social welfare expenditures today. Also, who says that the employed will make so much more just because there are fewer employed? The income may mostly go to corporations. If you jack up their taxes to 90% I guarentee you that they will move their headquarters somewhere beyond your reach.

Doc, it's going to be there anyway. The "safety net" will need to expand no matter if we do this or not; I just think this will be the simplest and cheapest way to go about it.

[Sava]

Doc, it's going to be there anyway. The "safety net" will need to expand no matter if we do this or not; I just think this will be the simplest and cheapest way to go about it.

You know who's to blame for this?

boomers

[The Mad Monk]

Nuclear missile subs?

[Dr Strangelove]

Where will they move? What country won't have robots?

They'll move to a country with a population so small that it won't need to tax their income more than 10% to support their unemployed. I here that Cayman Islands is nice.

[Dr Strangelove]

Doc, it's going to be there anyway. The "safety net" will need to expand no matter if we do this or not; I just think this will be the simplest and cheapest way to go about it.

You do realise that what you're advocating is Communism don't you? Who would have thought that The Mad Monk believess that Communism is inevitable?

The Mad Monk is a Communist! The Mad Monk is a Communist!

Sava is a Communist! Sava is a Communist!

Felch is a Communist! Felch is a Communist!

N35t0r is a Communist! N35t0r is a Communist!

[Felch]

When robots are able to do all the work and allow humans to live lives of pure leisure, communism will make sense.

[DinoDoc]

When robots are able to do all the work and allow humans to live lives of pure leisure, communism will make sense.

At that point, what would we do when the robots realize they no longer need us?

[Bereta_Eder]

take out their batteries

[Lorizael]

At that point, what would we do when the robots realize they no longer need us?

Wonder why we programmed robots to realize things.

[Felch]

Wonder why we programmed robots to realize things.

Seriously. Robots aren't any more likely to become self-aware than the Civ AI.