The only person I've seen on this list who seems to believe that "income", however defined, should not be contingent upon "work", also nebulously defined, is Bill. Why is this? Why shouldn't only those who wish to work do so doing whatever they wish and then simply combine the fruits of that into a common "pile" from which everyone draws equally regardless of contribution? Wouldn't this seem to be the least coercive arrangement that would maximize everyone's freedom to do as they choose? What could possibly be seen as unfair about such an arrangement?
I've never understood the incentive to work idea. Coerced to do shit work I understand perfectly but incentive to work? It is it's own incentive as far as I can see. Most of the work that goes on is unnecessary and eliminating it would do us and the environment a lot of good. We could not possibly partition out all the necessary work to three hours per day from all able bodied persons so why try? I've corresponded with Michael Albert on this point specifically and while he has never conceded the point his arguments against it are incredibly weak and rooted in irrational fear, as have been all arguments against this idea I have yet to see.
To directly answer Doug's question as posed to Bill: "do you think a just society should allow some people to coast by on the labor of others?" Of course! When my work allows others the freedom to not work it maximizes my own freedom. I actually have more freedom under such a system than I would under any other system. Anything less is a less just societal arrangement.
John Thornton P.S. Bill, I love eating at restaurants and would hate to see them disappear. I also love cooking large meals for groups, under my own terms, so shit jobs shouldn't be considered a necessary part of restaurants, only restaurants in a grotesque for-profit system. While my home is large enough to entertain 25+ people not everyone's is and restaurants provide great gathering spaces for important socializing. Unless you consider gathering/socializing while eating unnecessary in which case I'd say you're missing something important.