Why do we have to PAY for FOOD and PAY for a place to LIVE?

Question

Is this a good society?

Shouldn't we get a free place to live and free food as members of a society? It's more important than sidewalks, streetlights, and other services that are free to all of us. Then we could concentrate on working for a nice car, mp3 player, going to restaurants (that wouldn't be free, because of the luxury).

Ronjin, you're missing the point!
I pay taxes just as you do!
I am saying, I PREFER that MY TAXES go towards PAYING people to BUILD houses and PROVIDE food for ME, all of US, rather than IRAQIs.
You don't seem to want to IMPROVE this country. And it doesn't mean that I won't WORK once I get the house and food. I could put in a few hours a week building houses and raising food for other people.
You're so NASTY in your answer.
Why are so many people in this site so NASTY and AGRESSIVE and NEGATIVE towards those ASKING questions anyway?

Someone wrote "Would you like to work really hard at something and make 5000 per month, but because the government decided that everyone only really needs 2000 a month, they confiscate your extra 3000 and give that to someone else so they are equal to you?"
I said NOTHING about that in my question!
Learn how to READ before you answer a question.
I said I would WORK and ALL the money that I made would go to...I didn't say. I was thinking that it would be MY money--the only thing I would have to do for the govt. would be pay taxes (which I already do) and put in some work, like Habitat for Humanity or the Amish. All the money made could go towards shopping or travel or savings! What the HELL is wrong with that? Wouldn't you rather have extra spending money than a credit card debt and a bunch of loans that could easily be paid off by not paying rent?

To Bob B and Dana F: Read the Original Question: I said I could GO TO RESTAURANTS (when I didn't want to eat "cheese") and BUY all the stuff that I wanted with the EXTRA money. That would provide JOBS for restaurants, travel industry, gadget makers, fashion, you name it.
This is NOT COMMUNISM! Nor is it SOCIALISM where the government controls things. What I am talking about is TWO essential things in life being free. If you'd rather have taxes go towards stupid nuclear weapons and the like, fine.
The real estate industry would benefit and so would the banks because people would not buy houses with LOANS from banks and later default on the loans. People would have SAVINGS and could give a downpayment on a NICE HOUSE (when they saved enough to move out of govt. housing) and make payments. Everyone would be MAKING MONEY!
THINK about it: instead of paying rent (money down the toilet) you'd have SAVINGS for a DOWNPAYMENT!
Anyone has a helpful idea, you call him a communist. Ha!

Answer 1

some idiots here think capitalism has something to do with democracy

Answer 2

because we live in a capitalist society where we are able to make our own money and if someone paid for our food and place to live, that would be a communist society. Communists give everyone a certain amount of food and certain level of everything such as food, clothing housing,etc. The problems with communism is there is no free speach, no free enterprise etc.

Would you like to work really hard at something and make 5000 per month, but because the government decided that everyone only really needs 2000 a month, they confiscate your extra 3000 and give that to someone else so they are equal to you? That would suck and that is what would happen if society paid for food and housing for everyone.

Answer 3

You don't HAVE to pay for food...

Thomas Jefferson, as a matter of fact, believed that every single American Citizen should not be dependent on governments or business. And that the U.S. Government roll is to really handle it's military, mail carrier, and upholding the BASIC laws set in place in the constitution.

And It's somewhat true today... Take the Amish in America, for example, they live within their own means. They raise their own cattle, they build their own buildings. Basically a perfect example of Jeffersonian take in modern life.

I do, however, see the land that the United States has acquired, through whatever means it took to possess the land, as a way for the government itself to produce the income.

I can't really say it's bad... but it's not good either. I will have to stay neutral as far as paying for a place to live. Because anyone can buy their own land from the government and do whatever you want with that land, to my knowledge that is. Other than that... this isn't the ideal society that our forefathers might have imagine for us.

But we are a lot better off than some countries. We can do a lot better of course!

Answer 4

Because we are not COMMUNISTS. By empowering government to "provide" housing, you also surrender to them where you want to live and the STANDARD of housing that you prefer to live in. Have you ever visited current GOVERNMENT housing? I have and it don't get any better than it is right now. It is often drug infested and crime ridden.
Same for food you when allow the government to provide food. Once again have you ever eaten government Cheese ect... It's awful. What if you want pizza, but you can not have pizza because all the government is suppling is porridge. Have you ever seen the bread lines on the news about the now fallen communist Russia? People standing in line for hours for BREAD at government stores. Many getting their turn to shop and nothing is left. This is because the government decided how much food it took to feed you. What if standard was for better food or more food? Too bad YOU surrendered your right to eat what you want to the government.
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE.
If you want a better car ect .. get a better job or better training or a part time job or start your own business parttime, pick up cans . Make the neccessary scarifices. BUT let it be your decision to live to your standard not the government deciding where you live or what you eat.
God created us all equal with the inalienable right to be unequal to be governed by our desire, dreams and faith. Thank God I choose to govern myself instead of government housing and food.

Answer 5

Yes, this is a good society. It forces people to work for what they get. Communism started on the idea that we should all be equal, and shouldnt have to pay for our food, and we should all get our own place to live. Obviously, this hasn't worked, because some people were more "EQUAL" than others. Both capitalism and communism have dark sides, but in the end, being free matters more than being oppressed and controlled.

Answer 6

If you don't pay for food and a place to live, society collapses as the communist countries because the lazy are given the same rewards as the hard workers.

Answer 7

Because all things must be paid for, as food doesn't grow itself and likewise, houses don't build themselves. Whom do you expect to pick up the bill for this if not us? Society is all of us, working and earning and paying for the things we have, period.
Would it be nice to live in a world where everything is unearned and handed to us on a silver platter? From your point of view, perhaps...but, is it realistic? NO.
Food must be grown and harvested and processed. Who is going to do that if food is free? Unless you are going to grow your own crops, harvest them, process your own food and store it, then farmers have a right to be paid for crops they grow. Homes are built from materials that must be manufactured or harvested (wood, etc.) by someone. Unless you are going to forge your own steel, grow your own timber and become your own carpenter, electrician and plumber, the people who work in these industries deserve to be paid for their work.
Is it getting harder and harder to pay for things we need? Yes.
Are our wages keeping up with the cost of living, thanks to Congress, No. Is this fair in a 'good' society, absolutely not. But it is what it is.
Will we survive this?...That's entirely up to us and our voting power. Until then though, work hard, earn money, pay for the things you need and want. That's how society functions. No one should want to be a society leech, it is merely a legalized form of slavery.

Answer 8

sidewalks streetlights and other services have to be paid for too you plonka,, why don't you go live in a caravan and bum off the state , or hug a tree. Your the kind of person that used to shout stop the world i want to get off in the 70,s,,, grow up you Numpty.

Answer 9

If you don't work you don't eat.

I turn on the tube and what do I see
A whole lotta people cryin' 'Don't blame me'
They point their crooked little fingers ar everybody else
Spend all their time feelin' sorry for themselves
Victim of this, victim of that
Your momma's too thin; your daddy's too fat

Get over it
Get over it
All this whinin' and cryin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

You say you haven't been the same since you had your little crash
But you might feel better if I gave you some cash
The more I think about it, Old Billy was right
Let's kill all the lawyers, kill 'em tonight
You don't want to work, you want to live like a king
But the big, bad world doesn't owe you a thing

Get over it
Get over it
If you don't want to play, then you might as well split
Get over it, Get over it

It's like going to confession every time I hear you speak
You're makin' the most of your losin' streak
Some call it sick, but I call it weak

You drag it around like a ball and chain
You wallow in the guilt; you wallow in the pain
You wave it like a flag, you wear it like a crown
Got your mind in the gutter, bringin' everybody down
Complain about the present and blame it on the past
I'd like to find your inner child and kick its little ***

Get over it
Get over it
All this bitchin' and moanin' and pitchin' a fit
Get over it, get over it

Get over it
Get over it
It's gotta stop sometime, so why don't you quit
Get over it, get over it

"From the album Hell Freezes Over (1994)"

Answer 10

Because food and shelter don't come free and your type of communism doesn't work. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Answer 11

Because you didnt HUNT the food yourself, nor did you BUILD the house you live in. So SOMEONE had to get paid for doing it for you. Nobody forces you to shop at supermarkets or live in modern society.