Who does not work shall not eat

[joanna bujes]

At 01:31 PM 01/20/2002 -0500, you wrote:
>So, Pradeep, what's your solution to the free rider problem? Note that you
>do not need to assume that people would rather do nothing and have infinite
>desires to get this offthe ground. All you need is to assume that they would
>rather do less rather than more of relatively unpleasant but necessary work.
>I myself would rather tour European museums and hang out in cafes listening
>to jazz than even doing relatively pleasant work like writing legal briefs.
>Of course in the ideal communist world there would be now laws and no
>lawyers, so you can imagine my analytical skills being in demand for
>something ideal communists would like, whatever that might be. But the fact
>of the matter is that if any signifigant percentage of the populaution is
>like me,a nd I think, as a matter of fact thata lmost everyone is, but
>suppose it is only one third, then there will be a really significant free
>rider problem.

But who is "you"? An adult male that grew up in a narcissistic culture in 
which to be a worker is to be a loser. (+ I'm willing to bet that writing 
legal briefs is not all that pleasant. I write computer books for engineers 
...and it's like digging ditches with my brain.) If you were raised in a 
different culture, say one in which "manhood" was measured by your ability 
to work with others for the good of your community, you would not be as 
likely to shirk work. Barnraising!!!

I'm 47 years old. What I have noticed throughout my life is that people 
(unless conditioned otherwise) try to do the best they can. Being unable to 
finish things, putting forward minimal effort, and shirking...in a good, 
supportive environment, is considered neurotic behavior. Of course, if 
you're a guard at Dachau, it wouldn't be so neurotic after all. Context is 
everything.

Joanna B.