We Shouldn't Have to Pay for Everything

Bills, bills, bills. They keep piling up. One after the other. Rent, phone, grocery, water, heat. The list goes on. More than 60% of your bi-weekly paycheque gets used towards bills. And then you have to save in case something bad may happen, or a wedding is coming up, what about Christmas? Our current world drags you down, one dollar at a time. You’re surviving, not living.

I believe that it shouldn’t be this way. I believe everyone deserves to be able to survive without spending a dime. Free housing, groceries, bills, that should be the norm. I’m tired of pretending it’s weird to think this way. I truly don’t understand how anyone can believe that a human just existing doesn’t deserve to be able to live properly. No one asks to be born and once you make it to adulthood, you are punished for it. Some are unluckily enough to experience and feel the weight of not being able to survive because of low funds even before adulthood and that is insane!

If COVID and the lock-down proved anything, it’s the fact that the government CAN afford to have people not pay rent or bills. And that weight off everyone’s shoulders felt amazing. It is not a matter of affordability because there shouldn’t be a price on housing or food in the first place. It’s a matter of greed. Greed. All for a piece of green paper. Greed of having more than one’s neighbour. Greed of being the top dog.

But what would be the way to implement it? What would it look like? You would get a house, groceries, a phone, car, for free and bills…well, what are those? Money should be used for entertainment or upgrading from your issued home, car, phone, etc. Let me break it down further.

Everyone deserves a house. I’m not saying to give everyone a mansion, but right off the bat a family of three should be given a two bedroom home. Something to suit their needs. Yes, for free. A backyard included. A single person would receive a one bedroom apartment. If they met a lover and had a kid, the government would give them a two bedroom home. Another kid? Three bedrooms. And it goes on. Mother needs to move in because of health reasons? You get a bigger home. I don’t mean a run down home either. I mean a home with a living room, kitchen, dining area, storage space, a bathroom, driveway, backyard, as well as fully furnished. No caved in roofs, no loose floorboards, no cockroach problem. If the couple doesn’t want kids but a bigger space, that’s what their earnings from work should be used for. And I believe in this world, buying a bigger home is less of a hassle and cheaper.

What about electricity, water, heat? Come with the house immediately. All businesses have it too. For free. These are needed for basic survival. It includes the internet too. Have you ever gone an extended period of time without WiFi? It sucks. I’m not saying for entertainment purposes but for actual needs. You can’t check your bank account, can’t look at your schedule for work, can’t apply for jobs. At least not easily. And I am sure you can think of more reasons than just those.

A phone is given to you as well and all the expenses that come with them are now gone. You don’t need to worry about paying your phone bill. In this world, public transportation would be utilized more effectively. And in the case that you live outside of town, you’ll receive a car out of necessity. A standard phone and a regular econ vehicle is all you need. A larger car may be needed if your family is big enough, but like a home, that is just given to you. Same if you break your phone. Go down to the city hall, show your broken phone, and you get a new one at low cost. (Varying on situations.) Once again, if you want the latest version of a phone or a Ferrari, that's what money should, and WOULD be used for.

Groceries would be a big thing and where I’d like to talk about human’s natural greed. For starters, grocery stores would still exist. The thing that wouldn’t be there is any form of check out. People would need to develop a sense of community and selflessness. But in a world where you do not have to pay for food I feel like that would come easy. It’s also not like laws wouldn't exist either. Junk food, fast food, eating out at a restaurant, that is what you’d pay for. A junk food store would exist separately from a grocery store. Not only is healthy food free but it encourages one to eat healthy and maybe get a treat now and then. Junk food still being priced would be a great way to promote healthy living.

I’ve mentioned money still exists. That is for the new Super Mario game, to upgrade your phone, to go out with friends. Clothes, a standard laptop, medication, healthcare (physically and mental), schooling? That would be free. With no price tag on it. An upgraded laptop or designer clothes would have a price though. However, you needn’t worry about ugly grey clothes or losing your sense of style. You’d be able to shop for non-designers, NON fast fashion, quality clothes. In my ideal world of this, designer clothes wouldn’t even be a thing.

A sense of humanity would be greater. If everyone got basic human needs for free, we would feel a decrease in greed. Yes, there are issues. Yes, the first years if we go from this current world to this new one, would be insane. But over time it would flourish and grow. Laws would be in place but eventually it would just be common sense to leave some for others.

The best thing? You wouldn’t have to work to survive or work so many hours. Leaving you more time for your passions, your family, yourself. Jobs would exist but to give you the option to upgrade your home or get a new piece of jewelry or take your significant other out for dinner. And even better? You still would receive some pay for engaging in your passions career wise. If you love to make music and you’re an established singer, you can say goodbye to bartending. Decided to go to school to become a doctor? You don’t have to wash dishes in a restaurant anymore. If you don’t want to work, you don’t have to and you won't die. You’d be able to properly live your life. Because grinding yourself, working a 9-5, just so you make sure you can have a roof over your head? Having to choose between heat in the winter or food? That's not living. That’s survival. We shouldn’t have to fight to stay alive.

I’d like to thank you for taking your time to read this. Please share this with a friend to inspire and show a new world view. To show we don’t need to fight to survive. We just need to breathe.

Melody Vanbeak