Re:Request for Startups: News, Jobs, and Democracy
by matt4077 on Wednesday February 01, 2017 @12:40AM
(#13538568)
I think the sentiment is better expressed by the greeks: "It takes a village to raise a child".
One possible model may be to enlarge the "nuclear family" to groups of friends. Get five couples who enjoy each other's company together, and everyone can work 80% (4 days) while two people are home each weekday for childcare/housework etc.
Many other models are possible and it would be best to make it as easy as possible to experiment. Relevant factors may be:
- a universal right to flexible work schedules, at least for larger companies (10+) where changes balance out
- Mixed-zoning housing allowing the creative use of space. Which also helps with:
- Neighbourhoods designed for street life, where you can actually meet neighbours and build these (real) social networks, and where children can explore. When I was 6 or so, I became friends with two families in my neighbourhood. One owned a bookshop which became my personal library. The other was a graphics designer and a racing car driver where I learnt computers and mechanics (and got to drive in a Formula 1 car). I was often invited for dinner at these families, or just hung out when they had guests, and I learned more from listening to adults debating the topics of the day than anywhere else.
One possible model may be to enlarge the "nuclear family" to groups of friends. Get five couples who enjoy each other's company together, and everyone can work 80% (4 days) while two people are home each weekday for childcare/housework etc.
Many other models are possible and it would be best to make it as easy as possible to experiment. Relevant factors may be:
- a universal right to flexible work schedules, at least for larger companies (10+) where changes balance out
- Mixed-zoning housing allowing the creative use of space. Which also helps with:
- Neighbourhoods designed for street life, where you can actually meet neighbours and build these (real) social networks, and where children can explore. When I was 6 or so, I became friends with two families in my neighbourhood. One owned a bookshop which became my personal library. The other was a graphics designer and a racing car driver where I learnt computers and mechanics (and got to drive in a Formula 1 car). I was often invited for dinner at these families, or just hung out when they had guests, and I learned more from listening to adults debating the topics of the day than anywhere else.