My contribution is low but I'm still a functional member of society, I'm still part of a whole that works, part of supporting a society isn't just about money alone, it's about money supporting an ideal, paving the way for a civilized society that is self sufficient and gives people a certain amount of freedom within the law to choose to live the life that they want, I'm not breaking society by my lifestyle choice, the less hours I do someone else does at work and supports a family.
If you work harder you pay into the system but you get a rewarded for that, you have all the benefits that come with being wealthy, a lot of people value that and that isn't stopping any time soon, I certainly don't have a problem with rich(er) people, only those that keep moaning about the poor as if the only function they serve is to prop us up, if they are rich and living the life they want then they've made it, the system they have payed into has worked for them, but along the way a tiny proportion of your tax is also going towards supporting other peoples lifestyle choices, and I think that is fair as long as there isn't a tipping point and it causes society to break down.
Society as a whole is a complicated organism that has many elements, it all works together, poorer peoples disposable income for example is very important part of the organism, some elements are more important than others but they all serve as a whole, they should all be supported and respected. I myself value every class of people, I have great respect for those that work hard to get what they want, I have done my fair share of work when I was younger, I started work at 16 years old, for many years I worked two jobs full time burning the candle at both ends, I had a wake up call, I wasn't enjoying my life at all, I am a very hobby orientated person, my granddad always used to say "everyone needs a passion, find it, do it, money, no money, do what you love"
My problem I suppose if it is to be classed as one is that I do believe in Universal Pay, strongly, I certainly understand it's not something that can be implemented any time soon but I believe in the distant future it will be, and it will revolutionize society, it will give us a lot more flexibility and in my opinion will be much fairer, you will have a basic income that guarantees everyone a very minimal but safe standard of living, no more means tested benefits, no more fear, everyone in the future rich or poor should have this security as standard, I do not believe it will lead to a break down in society, most people want more than what a basic income would provide, if anything it would place more people in work and also allow more people to work less hours if they wanted to freeing up work for others, I believe in a society that has more people in work, but has more flexibility in the workplace.
Not sure how many of you are aware of Bronnie Ware, she was an Australian nurse that looked after people during the last 12 weeks of their life, She started recording their dying epiphanies in a blog that became so popular it lead her to writing a book, just for funsies here are the top two regrets of the dying that she recorded,
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it."
2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.
"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."
