Human society, as it is currently configured, is unaffordable.
Why?
Because service, not material, is the true basis of human groups.
Membership of a group costs every individual member of the group a little something, an intangible, and not the same thing from every person, but something from everyone.
The group returns something to every individual member, an intangible, a feeling of belonging, and a sense of safety, and a contribution towards their individual happiness.
You cannot pay people to be a member of a group, people agree to be a member of the group knowing that they will make a contribution in return for their membership.
If you pay someone to be a member of the group, you automatically introduce the notion that their intrinsic value is not sufficient for group membership, you instantly degrade the very groupness of that group, and undermine the individual’s worthiness. The group can provide a service, a kindness, without the intrinsic value of the member coming into question.
Think about being asked around to a friend’s house for dinner: if, when you arrive at the front door, your host gives you £20 with a smile on their face, what would run through your mind?
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