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Farmageddon on 05 October 2010
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HappySqurriel said:
Farmageddon said:
HappySqurriel said:

The lower classes are far better off today than in any point in history because technology has reduced the amount of labour required to produce the goods and services that are considered necessities.

As for how far back you have to go ... In most western countries the expansion of government entitlement programs happened primarily through the 60s and 70s.

About technology, and mainly production, as a reason, I completelly agree.

But look at work conditions before the 60s and 70s. It was almost slavery. I'm not one for lots of taxes and all that (I'm brazilian, we have asinine tax levels around), but I do think some of it, if well spent, can help spread the goods a little bit on a basic level without taxing better off people too much. Now of course I agree with you that assistencialist programs can backfire, so I think it's more about how much you collect and how you spend it then getting rid of the idea altogheter.

Slavery?

In relative terms, a household earning the median income has probably never been as well off as they were in the 1950 ...

I meant about work conditions, but I guess your post above does make sense nowadays, but it's hard to tell.

I just don't think relative terms matter that much. Still, I think I mostly agree with you, in a sense.