Kate Matsuda · 8 answers · 2y

What do you think about this proposition? - In order to reduce the rate of unemployment we should heavily tax washing machines so people will employ a housemaid again! -

So do we also heavily tax the housemaids on their washing machines? Housemaids for the housemaids? 🤔

No, might as well tax any and all other kinds of technology that make life more convenient and cheap to create more necessary labor for people overall but create more jobs. It doesn't really make sense when you can just enjoy the benefits of automation and give the extra wealth it provides to poorer people for free instead.

I'm against it, because 1) I have a general problem with using the tax code to try to force/encourage behaviors, and 2) people are horrible enough to waitstaff and clerks and anyone they think has a job 'beneath' them, more people in that position will mean more mistreatment/abuse

Disagree. I prefer that people be forced to work (the State chooses the job) so they get a proper income

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