Re:Making a Living Collecting Cans
by thaumasiotes on Wednesday October 09, 2013 @08:21AM
(#6520775)
> Removing one of the few legit ways the poor can generate money is not the right thing to do.
In terms of legitimacy, recycling bottles is about equivalent to digging holes and filling them in; the money comes from a tax dedicated to the purpose, not from people who want the bottles.
Compare:
- The government pays people $2 / hour to dig holes and then fill them in, using discretionary funds.
- The government pays people $2 / hour to "do whatever you were going to do anyway", using discretionary funds.
- The government pays people $2 / hour to move glass bottles from recycling bins to recycling centers, using dedicated funds.
Are the dedicated funds really a source of legitimacy? Where's it coming from?
In terms of legitimacy, recycling bottles is about equivalent to digging holes and filling them in; the money comes from a tax dedicated to the purpose, not from people who want the bottles.
Compare:
- The government pays people $2 / hour to dig holes and then fill them in, using discretionary funds.
- The government pays people $2 / hour to "do whatever you were going to do anyway", using discretionary funds.
- The government pays people $2 / hour to move glass bottles from recycling bins to recycling centers, using dedicated funds.
Are the dedicated funds really a source of legitimacy? Where's it coming from?