On Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:40:50 -0400, Radey Shouman
wrote:

John B. writes:

On Mon, 14 Oct 2013 19:26:21 -0400, Radey Shouman
wrote:

Duane writes:

John B. wrote:
On Mon, 14 Oct 2013 01:57:08 +0100, Clive George
wrote:

On 14/10/2013 00:48, John B. wrote:

I almost hesitate to say it, but Utopia seems to look more like
the enlightened socialist societies (?)

And the "enlightened Socialist Societies" are those places where the
very highly skilled weep bitter tears about the high taxes that they
pay to allow the unskilled to live in splendor?

The ones with the highest happiness ratings you mean?

I've always wondered why this is considered utopian in contrast to a
society where every citizen is guaranteed a job.

Which society guarantees every citizen a job?

the point was why it is considered utopian to support people who don't
work rather then striving for a population that is gainfully
employed.

To me a utopian society would be one in which only those that choose to
work would work. I.e. Fantasy such as Star Trek.
Not that I disagree with your point that it would be better to strive
toward full employment because I don't. Just that I think it nearly as
impossible as a utopian society.

I doubt people would be very happy, long term, if they didn't have to
work at *something*. Historically, the idle classes have made an
avocation out of telling others what to do, but that can't work for
everyone.

A typical member of my utopian society would work as a nuclear physicist
three days a week, and a garbageman one, because even in utopia **** has
to get done.

Yes. That sounds like Utopia.... but in real life it is seldom that
nuclear physicists are seen pitching garbage bins into the back of
trucks.

Shortly after the USSR went belly up I suspect you might have been able
to find some.

Or, for that matter, one seldom sees Garbage Men in Nuclear Physics
labs :-)

Back in the latter days of the British Empire, many a gentleman would
have been shocked to think that, one day, he might be expected to button
his own shirt in the morning. I don't want a Cultural Revolution, but
think we should go the other way.

You are not married? My wife in some instances has buttoned my shirt,
bandaged my cuts and handed me my crutches :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.