Those who cannot work?

[u/Outrageous_Big_9136]

I'm fairly new to Socialist thought, but if everyone is contributing what they can... how are those taken care of who are of retirement age or are too disabled to work?

[u/silverking12345]

Imho, everyone, including the disabled, are provided the opportunity to be productive in some way. Truth is, the vast majority of disabled individuals are capable of some productive work, it's just that circumstantial factors (location, current wealth level, etc) limit their options.

Ideally, a socialist system would provide the necessary resources and assistance necessary for these individuals to be productive. Maybe move them somewhere with suitable jobs, provide necessary equipment to work from home, or an education allowing them to excel in academia (more academics is a nett good for the world).

Even in cases of people being entirely unable to work, people with major cognitive disabilities or suffer from total disability, I think society would just take up the responsibility of caring for them regardless. There really aren't that many of them and realistically, some amount of surplus can be allocated to them without too much trouble/issues.

[u/Outrageous_Big_9136 → u/silverking12345]

I was thinking about those truly unable to work (very disabled, elderly, etc). Also, do we work till we're dead or do people "retire"?

[u/eveinterface → u/Outrageous_Big_9136]

There is this idea that in socialist society “ppl who don’t work don’t get to eat” and I don’t get where it came from because each and every somewhat successful socialist government provided pensions for sick and elderly

[u/silverking12345 → u/Outrageous_Big_9136]

I don't see why retirement can't exist. Or better, shorter work hours for all. Rather than 9-5, 5-days a week, maybe we can do half day shifts or a 4-day work week.

Truth is, we don't have a shortage of workers and productivity potential. In fact, we have a gigantic surplus that's heavily mismanaged under capitalism. Tons of abled bodied people languishing in bullshit jobs and inefficient work.

If we all worked in well planned, efficiently managed jobs, we can all cut down work hours and still maintain productivity levels. Maybe people can be allowed to retire earlier.

The only issue is declining birthrates which can lead to population decline. If not enough young people are replacing older people, then the older population will essentially be forced to work harder to make up the difference.

That's already happening right now and it's not looking great. Nevertheless, in a socialist system, people will be more free to have children without worrying about financial insecurity so at the end of the day, it's still better to go that route than sticking with the current capitalist world order.