What's the bare minimum

[glatt]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

What's the bare minimum standard of living that an American should have

Originally Posted by jimhelm

these are communist thoughts.
knock it off.

Originally Posted by limey

I see nothing communist in the original question.

I kind of do. I have a problem with the word "should," which is why I compared this question to arguing about angels on the head of a pin.

"Should" implies that there is some sort of obligation. That people have a right to certain physical possessions simply because they were born. And if they are owed these possessions, then they are owed them by somebody or some entity. Who? Who owes them that?

[lookout123]

This is where I stop with most of these types of discussion. My feeling is no one owes you much of anything and if they choose to do well by you then that's wonderful.

Originally Posted by glatt

"Should" implies that there is some sort of obligation. That people have a right to certain physical possessions simply because they were born. And if they are owed these possessions, then they are owed them by somebody or some entity. Who? Who owes them that?

where a blue collar working person cannot earn enough to supply the bare minimum

I think the highlighted words are the whole point of this thread. My idea of bare minimum is probably different than yours.

Based on my knowledge of a guy I see nearly everyday when he heads in for his daily wash at the circle K, I'd say you don't need too damn much to exist. He doesn't want to go to a shelter and gets by on his own. That's his choice.

[jimhelm]

Originally Posted by lookout123

Based on my knowledge of a guy I see nearly everyday when he heads in for his daily wash at the circle K, I'd say you don't need too damn much to exist. He doesn't want to go to a shelter and gets by on his own. That's his choice.

I thought a Circle K was a convenience store like 7-11. what is he washing? his car? clothes? person?

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by jimhelm

I thought a Circle K was a convenience store like 7-11. what is he washing? his car? clothes? person?

Himself. He's actually a homeless guy that lives in the area. He does odd jobs and wanders around. He usually pitches his tent just a couple minute walk into the desert.

He's a nice enough, sociable guy. He's probaby batshit crazy but doesn't seem to have any problems living the way he is and he says he hates the shelters. He likes to just do his own thing, or so he says.

[JBKlyde]

I make about 8,600 a year.. and I'm in hud housing on disability.. If I had a job making 500 a month I'd have nothing to complain about...

[jimhelm]

Originally Posted by glatt

I kind of do. I have a problem with the word "should," which is why I compared this question to arguing about angels on the head of a pin.

"Should" implies that there is some sort of obligation. That people have a right to certain physical possessions simply because they were born. And if they are owed these possessions, then they are owed them by somebody or some entity. Who? Who owes them that?

I imagined, instantly... and with no real thought...that the next question would be something along the lines of....if X is the bare minimum, and we have Y amount of Z (wealth, food, whatever) would you want to make it so Z is evenly distributed to make sure all of us have at least X.

So, my quip was but a quip... and I don't know if that's where spexx's thoughts were leading... I was just predicting kind of... probably wrong.

anyway... stop being a commie.

[limey]

Originally Posted by glatt

I kind of do. I have a problem with the word "should," which is why I compared this question to arguing about angels on the head of a pin.

"Should" implies that there is some sort of obligation. That people have a right to certain physical possessions simply because they were born. And if they are owed these possessions, then they are owed them by somebody or some entity. Who? Who owes them that?

Originally Posted by jimhelm

I imagined, instantly... and with no real thought...that the next question would be something along the lines of....if X is the bare minimum, and we have Y amount of Z (wealth, food, whatever) would you want to make it so Z is evenly distributed to make sure all of us have at least X.

So, my quip was but a quip... and I don't know if that's where spexx's thoughts were leading... I was just predicting kind of... probably wrong.

anyway... stop being a commie.

There is the same sort of implied obligation in passages from the Bible, but it doesn't make me a Christian to allude to them .