This is fuckin' unbelieveable: Get paid to go to the doctor, or pass a test in school!

What horseshit.

In my opinion, it puts the focus on doing the "right" thing on the wrong thing. They should want to do the right thing because it's the right thing, not because the city will give them a few more bucks...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

So, would this more accurately reflect your feelings?

(from your source)

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

I am willing to try almost anything, Hell, Steve, we spend billions killing people, why not spend some teaching/retraining them to make better choices? I think this is worth a try since it worked in Brazil.

I haven't seen any more workable options offered, have you?

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

I fully agree with Mare. Maybe Steve can offer some (workable) alternatives.

What they SHOULD do versus what they WILL do cannot figure into your equation, Stevie.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

Though I believe discretion is the best root of good deeds, I must say that this should yield some positive results, if nothing else. I don't think every participant will wind up in the fashion described in the OP.

Actually, in an experimental sense, I'd like to see how the study turns out. If Steve's theory is true, and it very well might be, then it will show that discretion truly is the better part of good deeds (strengthening the 'rights' argument WRT success and motivation), and if it isn't, well at least we will have employed a few homeless in the end.

Sounds like A Clockwork Orange... minus the torture.

It seems like a good idea, especially since it's basic psychology. It would be interesting if this could somehow lighten the load on welfare, but I don't know the likelihood of that.

Hey, I could have committed several crimes today, but I didn't.

Where's my check?

Matt

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De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Exactly.

What happens when these people stop getting paid? They'll have lost their incentive to do the "right" thing.

Or, would those speaking out in favor of it propose that, as long as someone stays poor, they keep getting paid?

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

They're going to pay someone who holds a job $150.00 a month. How about they hold the job because they want a fuckin' job?

They're going to pay $300.00 to someone who does well on a school test. How about doing well on a school test so that you can get into college, get a good job, and be a success in life instead of a drain on society?

Right now, this is (supposedly) going to be done with private funds so, if contributors want to piss their money away, more power to them. But I'd expect a ridiulous level of public outcry if they try to use public funds to finance this...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

You'd rather that welfare become generational? I'm all for anything that moves people from dependence to independence. Even if that means using tax money to reward the impoverished to teach them how to become successful. It'll be interesting to see if this program works or not.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

You have often been more perceptive than this, Steve. It's a useful experiment, I haven't seen anything else suggested so why not give this a try? You seem to object on philosophical grounds, ok, let's do the experiment and see where it goes--what have we lost? A few dollars of private money. If you can think outside the box and come up with a better idea then I'm willing to give it a try too.

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The apocalypse is coming... we're gonna need more ammo.

The only way we're going to know if it works is if, after these people stop getting paid, they continue to do the "right thing".

I suspect, though, considering the "entitlement mentality" so many of the down-trodden have developed in this country, that the experiment will be a dismal, and unqualified failure...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

What of the "entitlement mentality" of the monied class in this nation?

Isn't the "entitlement mentality" really just the "American mentality?"

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson

No, it's not. You and I, I would suspect, appreciate what we have as a result of our hard work, and don't feel "entitled" to something unless we work for it.

And, for what it's worth, I agree with you. The "rich" certainly have developed an entitlement mentality in this country. But that doesn't make the same type of mentality, developed by the poor, okay.

Both are bad.

Should we not do something about the one because nothing is being done about the other?

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

I'm afraid it's all part & parcel of living in a capitalist society.

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"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket."

Thomas Jefferson