Rereading your op, I think I was a bit off target with my first reply.
What I'm seeing now is that you're proposing a solution to the poverty rat race, which I agree is a problem that needs to be solved. I don't see a one time sum and admission to society as the solution tho. It's all personal choice and responsibility. The mass consumption of Chinese junk? Unavoidable to an extent, but we can do a lot to limit it. I see so much fiscal irresponsibility in my generation, which combined with useless degrees and debt, leads to poverty. People have been programmed to consume and not taught how to save and budget, and a one time sum won't change that. It all starts at home.
It also won't guarantee that someone will be a functional part of society.
It's a very complex problem. I don't think there's any one answer. A good step might be to offer retraining programs for liberal arts students like they do the military vets? Let them learn a useful skill for free (at the cost of the taxpayer) so they can be part of society rather than be drowning in debt, struggling to get work, and bitter because they feel they've been denied the American dream.
If we gave everyone a lump sum of 30k when they turn 18 and eliminated all welfare?
If I game it out in my head based on what I've seen and experienced;
Some people take the money and invest it, either in stocks or use it for education. These people probably would have done well anyway. They'll come out on top regardless.
A lot of people will party, gamble, and waste it within a few years. They'll have no skills, no investments, likely no job or education outside high school. Many of them won't have bothered to look for work b/c they have 30k in the bank.
Once the money runs out there will be two sub groups:
people who realise they fucked up and pull themselves up by any means necessary.
people who start crying. They'll become a solidified voter base for anyone who promises them free stuff. Politicians will capitalise on this. It's human nature. We see this today with the Bernie bros and Dems in general. Free college, free rent, free healthcare, etc.
The net effect on society would be worse than if they weren't given anything. Some of the second group would have gone to work, moved up, and done ok for themselves if they hadn't had the opportunity to stop advancing once they turned 18. What were you doing at 18? I know I wasn't equipped to handle 30k dropping into my lap. You'd see a generation as bad, if not worse than the millennials.
Meanwhile China steamrolls ahead. Their system is a brutally elegant combination of centralised power supported by hyper-capitalism that will take advantage of any and all weaknesses.
I think I understand your line of thought, that if we give people a leg up when they become adults they can make in life and contribute to society without becoming bogged down by the current systems. I'm more cynical. Based on what I've seen, I don't support free anything for most people. I think people will use it for short term pleasure, sacrificing long term gain.
Rereading your op, I think I was a bit off target with my first reply.
What I'm seeing now is that you're proposing a solution to the poverty rat race, which I agree is a problem that needs to be solved. I don't see a one time sum and admission to society as the solution tho. It's all personal choice and responsibility. The mass consumption of Chinese junk? Unavoidable to an extent, but we can do a lot to limit it. I see so much fiscal irresponsibility in my generation, which combined with useless degrees and debt, leads to poverty. People have been programmed to consume and not taught how to save and budget, and a one time sum won't change that. It all starts at home.
It also won't guarantee that someone will be a functional part of society.
It's a very complex problem. I don't think there's any one answer. A good step might be to offer retraining programs for liberal arts students like they do the military vets? Let them learn a useful skill for free (at the cost of the taxpayer) so they can be part of society rather than be drowning in debt, struggling to get work, and bitter because they feel they've been denied the American dream.
If we gave everyone a lump sum of 30k when they turn 18 and eliminated all welfare?
If I game it out in my head based on what I've seen and experienced;
Some people take the money and invest it, either in stocks or use it for education. These people probably would have done well anyway. They'll come out on top regardless.
A lot of people will party, gamble, and waste it within a few years. They'll have no skills, no investments, likely no job or education outside high school. Many of them won't have bothered to look for work b/c they have 30k in the bank.
Once the money runs out there will be two sub groups:
people who realise they fucked up and pull themselves up by any means necessary.
people who start crying. They'll become a solidified voter base for anyone who promises them free stuff. Politicians will capitalise on this. It's human nature. We see this today with the Bernie bros and Dems in general. Free college, free rent, free healthcare, etc.
The net effect on society would be worse than if they weren't given anything. Some of the second group would have gone to work, moved up, and done ok for themselves if they hadn't had the opportunity to stop advancing once they turned 18. What were you doing at 18? I know I wasn't equipped to handle 30k dropping into my lap. You'd see a generation as bad, if not worse than the millennials.
Meanwhile China steamrolls ahead. Their system is a brutally elegant combination of centralised power supported by hyper-capitalism that will take advantage of any and all weaknesses.
I think I understand your line of thought, that if we give people a leg up when they become adults they can make in life and contribute to society without becoming bogged down by the current systems. I'm more cynical. Based on what I've seen, I don't support free anything for most people. I think people will use it for short term pleasure, sacrificing long term gain.
I hear what you're saying, I just don't see it working any better. The problems we have as a society go beyond a quick cash payment and a handshake.
Homesteading? Had to work the land.
Farming subsidies? Government should butt out. Let the free market reign. Stop subsidising corn and soybeans.
Fuck the auto and banking industries. In the immortal words of Robin Williams: " Too big to fail? That's like saying you're too fat to diet!"
If we want to make it fair for everyone we should stop allowing the government to prop up certain demographics/aspects of society.