Spurred from this post about The Office where I saw some back-and-forth about potential occupation-shaming(?), like why are people getting heated over being able to work?

I understand there's mental health, physical disability, learning disability, or just general lack of opportunity for some people or situations, but shouldn't everyone's drive be to contribute to society as a byproduct of participating in it?

Yeah, capitalism is fucked up, but at the end of the day, shouldn't everyone be motivated to contribute something back to earn their keep? Or can we just say "fuck it" and get mad at people who shame us for choosing not to submit to the 9 to 5?

  • KarlBarx [they/them,he/him]
    ·
    4 years ago

    I feel that in an actual socialist society there would be way less of the type of just given up type. I mean look at the guy you're talking about he lost his job through no fault of their own and just kinda realizes they have no control over society and themselves so why even try. In a socialist society people would have actual control over government and workplace so they would feel ownership of it and thus actually go to work and shit.

    • ColonelKernel [comrade/them]
      ·
      4 years ago

      I guess part of it is I see my own reflection in that mirror. Like if the only "optimism" in this world is looking unto China to fulfill their pledge towards a socialist utopia by 2050... the average worker bee in China works 70 hours a week doing some thankless, redundant tasks to barely eek above the poverty line.

      In the US, we're headed towards disaster, and the idea of working the next 30 years doing menial bullshit just kinda makes me... not wanna participate.

        • ColonelKernel [comrade/them]
          ·
          4 years ago

          I think if you took a cross-section of average Americans working 60 hrs a week versus Chinese citizens working 70 hours a week, there would be a chasm of difference in QOL/opportunity.

      • KarlBarx [they/them,he/him]
        ·
        4 years ago

        Of course. But the idea is to use that menial money to fund the organization which will emancipate us. Even to be honest the idea of social democracy is something that seems just as hard to achieve in the US as communism so might as well go all the way.