FAQ

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2 Responses to “FAQ”

  1. Fionn Cahalane Says:
    14 August, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    I’ve always been intersted in socialism but I have to ask your approach towards people who would simply not go to work and still get the same benefits as hard workers, Fionn 16

  2. David Convery Says:
    3 February, 2008 at 2:34 am

    That is an interesting point that you raise.
    I don’t think however, that under a socialist society, the matter would ever arise.
    Firstly, work could easily be made available for all (how this would be done has been outlined in different sections) and secondly, I think that practically everyone would want to work, especially if they could do a job that they are interted in and one in which you can see some benefit being given back to society. You see work would not be organised like it is now. Firstly it would not be run for profit but for the good of society as a whole. I think that this is a key aspect. I think that if someone knows that the work they do is going to benefit the people they know, their community and society in general, they will be happy to do it.
    Secondly, the working week would be much shorter (for example, today if new machinery is introduced that can do the work of 40 people in half the time, then those people will be laid off. However under socialism, where a workplace is not run for profit, that same new piece of machinery could be used to lower the working week for all instead.) and the work probably less pressured also. I’m not saying that work won’t often be hard, it can be. However, if you are not constantly being forced to work till you drop, not constantly having to look over your shoulder for the boss, etc, you will take greater pleasure in your work.

    That is why I think people will want to work. But not only that. There is a very basic point also. Anyone that has been unable to find work for a few weeks or months knows how boring it is to stay at home and do nothing, how unproductive and useless you can feel. I think that this, allied with what I said above is a good enough incentive to work.

    If you are not happy with this answer, please let us know and we can discuss the issue some more.

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