[extropy-chat] Socialism versus Transhumanism

[JDP]

randy wrote:

> >
> >Interesting view, which doesn't seem to reflect that the socialist
> >systems of europe always maintain higher unemployment 
> 
> Actually, a lot of the jobs people have in the USA would not even
> qualify as jobs in many european countries--they pay much less than
> unemployment over there, and of course the minmum wage is generally
> much higher over there. 


This may be true, but you know, there is also has an unfortunate
consequence, which is that in France, one is either IN or OUT (well,
I'm an independent worker, so I'm really nowhere, but this is
exceptional, and I've done almost all my business with non-French
customers). Either one manages to get a "CDI" (i.e. "work contract
with indefinite duration"), and then one has all the benefits (minimum
wages, unemployment if it stops, 13th month and who knows what) that
are reserved to this status, either one doesn't and then one is pretty
much out of society. You can *not* find easily a small work, then a
better one, then maybe an even better one. It's a bit all or nothing.
There is this box in which you must enter, and if you are ready to
enter it, and that you manage to do so, THEN you have some advantages.
But it's a strong constraint. And all theses benefits make it even
more a constraint to employers, who hesitate even more to sign such
contracts, which makes it even more difficult to get them. (But of
course they still need employees so they still do sign such
contracts.)

In fact, there is much talk of "la précarité" (social insecurity) and
"l'exclusion" (being out of society), as many people can't find
"boxes" or do not fit in them, and are left to social welfare. There
is little mid-ground.

I don't have a good quantitative grasp of whether *on the whole* it is
better here or *on the whole* it is better there. It depends on who
you consider, too. IN my case, working 8 hours a day on non personal
endeavours is something I never contemplated (and had the good fortune
of never been forced to do, either), so to me all the "social
benefits" stuff is all a bit abstract. I don't have "minimum wages",
and if I don't find work, I cannot apply to unemployment benefits. All
the "social conquests" were made by organized employees, and the
system by now is designed for them. They have made the "box" nicer and
nicer. If you do live in a box, then you obviously prefer a nicer box.
If you want to (or must) live in a box but you don't, then you want
the box to be nice, but also you want it to be available. And finally
maybe you don't want and don't need to live in a box, and so you don't
care about how nice it is.

It seems clear that for people with low qualifications, who are still
able to find CDI (the full-fledged box), the situation is better here.
I like this fact, it's nice to know that some of the humble people
live in a relative comfort, and that they are not pressed to death
because they are not found to be useful enough. The issue may be the
impact this organization has on creation, which also has incidence on
the future of boxes (size and number).

Jacques