| Related, there's a strong push to increase the minimum wage; while I agree that those on the bottom should have a higher quality of living I feel the effects of this first hand. Increasing the minimum wage does nothing to increase the quality of life on the bottom, but does VERY WELL increase the cost of living (which rises to meet the new 'market will bear' level) and decrease everyone who pays rent rather than "earns" rent. I feel that real world observation can confirm that raising the minimum wage mostly has the effects I describe above and that there are different approaches which should be tried (probably in combination). * Actually tax the super-rich *1
* Tax passive income higher than "active" (work for living) income (maybe 2-3x rate?).
* Land Value based tax (re-development) on a trend (20 year median?) basis.
* Define "poverty" as 1.2 * (rent + healthy food + healthcare + other typical costs) per area.
* Supply side price controls.
* Anyone in poverty or out of work should instead be eligible for the New New Deal*.
* 1(taxes) High rates for those earning 10X the median income, and approaching 49% for those earning 20X.Supply side price controls, a baseline offer in critical services for the private sector to (try to) beat, for ALL core public infrastructure: security (mil/'peace officers'), roads, water, sewer, education, healthcare, electricity, communications. Yes, this should focus on mostly covering natural monopolies and often provide a market framework for services on top of that infrastructure. Similar to how public roads enable many delivery services to compete. New New Deal: * free room/board/basic public food kitchen
* yearly aptitude assessment
* training for the job area of their choice out among aptitude matches/society needs
* arranged part time apprenticeship work with at least minimum wage per hour
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