[rolltiide]

> Why not focus on well-being of everyone?

Because that won't gain consensus.

But demonstrating how some parts of our culture undermine productivity can.

I think we could reach similar outcomes, if the lack of well-being can be proven to show that it undermines productivity.

[wallace_f]

I'm not sure what fraction of paid jobs even contribute greater than their cost to society. The War on Poverty has spent trillions, and poverty has increased. A lot of industries obviously don't contribute (tax attorneys, lobbyists, bureaucrats, administrators (see the Rise of the Administrator in healthcare), even much of law enforcement, academia, or regulators). Actually even my first high-paid job working for a financial tech company, I'm convinced didn't contribute to society. Most of our work was mandated by regulatory laws, and most of our customers were capture by monopolistic competition or downright aggressive, questionable sales.

I don't see anyone saying this, but I think fixing the bottom 10% of society requires fixing the top 90%. I see no way that happens. Nobody accepts blame for being wrong, and most people's cognitive capabilities are filled by an evening watching cable TV.

[rolltiide]

I don't agree on that being the immediate issue.

The bottom with disruptions to their income are detrimental to society’s health. Public sector monetary solutions are untolerated and private sector solutions of employment are often inaccessible or inadequate. We can address their productivity.

[wallace_f]

It's not the problem for those that can't work--the truly disabled--but I think it is for those who can. They're not inherently incapable of being productive.