The threat that machines will make working at McDonalds economically non-viable, resulting in a large number of people who prefer not to work, is speculative.
The threat that generous welfare payments will make working at McDonalds economically non-viable, resulting in a large number of people who prefer not to work, is real. We have been there, done that, and gotten the T-shirt.
Given the option (which existed prior to the Clinton-era welfare reforms) of living on government support supplemented by various economically marginal activities versus having to actually show up 9 o'clock in the morning every single day, many millions of people were content to choose to not work.
(If I had young kids, I'd rather spend time with them than work, too. It is unsurprising to me that many people who had that option availed themselves of it.)
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[ 5.1 ms ] story [ 96.1 ms ] threadThe threat that generous welfare payments will make working at McDonalds economically non-viable, resulting in a large number of people who prefer not to work, is real. We have been there, done that, and gotten the T-shirt.
Given the option (which existed prior to the Clinton-era welfare reforms) of living on government support supplemented by various economically marginal activities versus having to actually show up 9 o'clock in the morning every single day, many millions of people were content to choose to not work.
(If I had young kids, I'd rather spend time with them than work, too. It is unsurprising to me that many people who had that option availed themselves of it.)