Yeah. There was a time I merely thought the other side was misguided, but would see reason if we talk. That isn’t how it works. Bullies only recognize power, and one should know when to speak their language.

Hell no. You want us to surrender to evil people.

My homebrew is Universal Ranked Income, or URI. There are at least two jokes in that shorthand.

Anyhow, the premise is that everyone gets a Rank 0 income with universal benefits by default. $10k is given to every citizen each year, money being solely used for lifestyle rather than necessity. Higher ranks replace the income of lower ones. Schooling is a job with an income based on grades, $12k-$20k range of income. Rank 2 is jobs like being a waitress or clerk, giving $40k. Astronauts fall into the highest category of R5, thus they get $100k. All jobs are ranked according to objective Effort, Risk, and Knowledge metrics. Employers can’t pay more or less than the income rank, nor offer benefits to select employees.

Essentially, there are absolute floors and ceilings on income and wealth. Everyone also gets issued standard items like food, clothing, cars, and so forth, but these are very generic - you spend money to get clothes with interesting patterns, varied food, bigger cars, larger shelter, and so forth. Capitalism is reserved for things that need to be attractive, while socialism is used to ensure survival and wellbeing.

True. Even the Nordic Model nations are backsliding from what I hear. It is why I think that we need to try an wholly artificial economic system, with rules and principles. Similar to a Constitution’s framework, but focused on providing for the wellbeing of all citizens.

I would prefer to work a job than to grind in a videogame. Unfortunately, Americans live in a nation where bad working conditions, low pay, heavy competition, instability, and ghost jobs makes job seeking unpalatable.

American capitalism is a cancer.

If they got the coop working and user-friendly, I might be able to convince someone to join me for a playthrough. Regardless, I will certainly pick up a copy - SS2 deserves my money, and I want Night Dive to keep bringing back the good stuff.

I hope Lucas makes an official Amerika DLC. It is important that Paper’s Please message is not treated as anti-communist, but anti-totalitarian.