Stupid World

**pritch** · 5th January 2025, 16:50

Originally Posted by R650R

Big companies like Amazon it’s prob an automated online process. Despite USA lifestyle there prob isn’t a box to tick for special leave due to being shot at. Other story’s mention she selected wrong option. While it sounds shocking it’s also easy to understand how it would happen. News outlets know this but it’s much better to capitalise on mega corporate envy of their profits for a clickbsit story.

There has been quite a bit written about the Dickensian working conditions at Amazon. The whole thing is automated and the people are treated like part of a machine. There is a strict time limit to retrieve each item ordered, if you speak to another staff member it's instant dismissal, the schedule for the delivery drivers is so tight that they reportedly pee in a bottle to keep to the schedule. Amazon's usual response is to say it's not them it's the contractor, but of course the contractor wouldn't have the contract unless they met Amazon's conditions.

**onearmedbandit** · 5th January 2025, 16:59

Originally Posted by Katman

But just let anyone dare suggest that the pharmaceutical industry is profit driven.

I don't know, I think a lot people (at least those I've ever discussed it with) are fully onboard that that industry is profit driven. All businesses are by definition. I just think most people realise we are essentially stuck with that model (and arguably we have to be, no one is doing it for charity or purely the betterment of mankind).

**Katman** · 5th January 2025, 17:01

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

(and arguably we have to be, no one is doing it for charity or purely the betterment of mankind).

Human health shouldn't be something that's governed by profit.

It should be governed by what is good for the health of humanity.

**TheDemonLord** · 5th January 2025, 17:40

Originally Posted by pete376403

Would you be making the same excuses if the event happened in a nominally "socialist" country, eg Finland or another Scandinavian country? Too hard to admit that Amazon is completely profit driven, from Bezos down, to the exclusion of reasonable employment policies?

Social Democracies are not Socialist.

**onearmedbandit** · 5th January 2025, 17:55

Originally Posted by Katman

Human health shouldn't be something that's governed by profit.

It should be governed by what is good for the health of humanity.

That would be nice. But where does the money come from for the research, the development, the infrastructure?

**Katman** · 5th January 2025, 17:56

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

That would be nice. But where does the money come from for the research, the development, the infrastructure?

I'd happily see my taxes go towards that ideal.

**onearmedbandit** · 5th January 2025, 18:05

Originally Posted by Katman

I'd happily see my taxes go towards that ideal.

As would many others. And many others would not. Already there are lots of people struggling financially, covering all healthcare related costs from taxation would break many of them.

**TheDemonLord** · 5th January 2025, 18:09

Originally Posted by Katman

Human health shouldn't be something that's governed by profit.

It should be governed by what is good for the health of humanity.

A Laudible goal - but there are a number of inherent problems:

The moment you are asking someone else to do something, there is an exchange of resources - whether that is Money, physical items or even just someone elses Time - these are all finite and as such need to be paid for.

One look at the migration of Doctors and Nurses out of NZ to Australia shows that at the individual level, if people do not feel they are being paid their worth, they will go elsewhere.

When you say Governeed by what is good for the Health of Humanity - one could easily take actions such as:

- Banning just about everything fun in this world
- Calorie restrictions for people
- Mandated Exercise regimine

etc.

How many here can say they are at the correct weight for their height, that they exercise regularly in-line with the best Health advise, dont smoke, limit their alcohol consumption to the recommended levels, dont engage in risky behavior etc.

Many of us, will incur usage of the Health Care system - not by random chance - but as a direct consequence of our own life choices. Who should pay for our choices.

Which leads to a 3rd point - If there is no penalty for abuse of a system, it will get abused. This can take two different forms:

Imagine a person who has a condition that is being caused or agrievated by their actions, if they have to pay the full cost of treatment, they are self-motivated to remedy their behavior.

The most dedicated people at brushing their teeth are the ones who have had to pay large Dentist bills...

Imagine now a Mental Health question - the expansion of conditions and specifically conditions that need funded treatment has been very noticeable over the last 2 decades. This is not to say this is necessarily a bad thing - as this has meant that some people who previously were unable to properly function in society have gotten access to what they need to be productive members of society. It has also meant that people who are dissatisfied with their lives (and traditionally would have turned to religion or an OE to find themselves) - now have a number of self-diagnosed conditions that need treatment.

A small barrier to entry to ensure that only those who really need the assistance are seeking it - is not necessarily a bad thing.

**TheDemonLord** · 5th January 2025, 18:10

Originally Posted by Katman

I'd happily see my taxes go towards that ideal.

So would all the Consultants, Middle Managers, Service providers and everyone else who gets in on a Government funded Gravy Train.

**Katman** · 5th January 2025, 18:11

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

As would many others. And many others would not. Already there are lots of people struggling financially, covering all healthcare related costs from taxation would break many of them.

Imagine what could be achieved if there was total accountability for our taxes that the government currently collect and spend.

**Katman** · 5th January 2025, 18:57

And in respect of health care, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what Robert F Kennedy Jr might bring about.

Maybe he might chart a course that the rest of the world sees fit to follow.

**onearmedbandit** · 5th January 2025, 19:55

Originally Posted by Katman

Imagine what could be achieved if there was total accountability for our taxes that the government currently collect and spend.

You'd think that would be a given right. Stupid world indeed.

**R650R** · 5th January 2025, 21:00

Originally Posted by pete376403

Would you be making the same excuses if the event happened in a nominally "socialist" country, eg Finland or another Scandinavian country? Too hard to admit that Amazon is completely profit driven, from Bezos down, to the exclusion of reasonable employment policies?

Nothing to do with politics itÂ’s just nature of how bigger companies operate these days, even in NZ this type of stuff is coming as technology make it easy.
You donÂ’t have to be right wing to be a billionaire just ask Taylor Swift, George Soros, Steven Spielberg, Tom Steyer, Bill GatesÂ…..

Btw a quick google of Swedish furniture giant IkeÂ’s reveals allÂ’s not rosey there at times and perhaps as enjoyable as assembling flat pack without reading the instructions

https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/comp...ofile/ikea-ltd

**pritch** · 6th January 2025, 10:25

The Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist at the Washington Post produced this cartoon. Bezos didn't like it and it wasn't published, the cartoonist resigned. Principled people are going to be feeling the pressure for the next four years.