Working Is Too Hard, Abuses Are Too Many

The difficulties faced by countries governed by an old capitalist structure largely stem from the outdated and backward nature of that system.

The Problem of Outdated Capitalism

In the societies with such a system, money becomes the supreme value, and some people are forced to sell almost everything for the sake of survival. At the same time, economic power is concentrated in the hands of capital and capital owners who continuously attempt to suppress wages in order to extract ever-increasing profits. The instinctive tendency of employers trained in such a backward capitalist culture is often to keep the labor force economically insecure. A population that is financially desperate is more likely to accept inhuman working conditions, thereby strengthening the bargaining power of capital.

In pursuing this goal, such capitalists often forget a fundamental economic truth: their merchandise requires consumers. By weakening the purchasing power of large segments of society, they ultimately harm not only the public but also themselves.

The Ruined Image of Work

Under these conditions, work becomes a burdensome necessity rather than a meaningful activity. It does not produce sufficient income to justify the effort, yet it remains mandatory for survival — even though basic needs are often still not fully met. In other words, it becomes hard labor that bears little fruit.

In such an environment, resentment naturally develops. People begin to feel that they are doing society a favor through their fruitless toil. When some individuals struggle or even commit crimes for tiny amounts of money, the idea that in certain countries unemployed citizens receive continued support through tax revenues may appear irrational or unjust from the perspective of those trapped in exploitative systems.

Everything in Its Proper Place

In contrast, in Nordic countries — where labor unions hold significant influence — wages are generally fair and reasonable. Work is economically worthwhile. A person who works directly experiences the tangible results of their effort and does not feel humiliated or resentful.

Those who are unable to work must accept a lower standard of living. However, the difference between employment income and governmental support is substantial: a working individual typically earns significantly more than someone relying solely on social assistance. For this reason, most people prefer employment, since it allows greater economic freedom and improved living conditions.

Complete Unemployment Is Itself Burdensome

Unemployment is not only an economic limitation; it is also psychologically exhausting. Prolonged inactivity often leads to depression, emotional instability, and a sense of purposelessness. By contrast, when a person is active, sees the results of their labor, and experiences financial stability, their mental state improves significantly. Work, when fairly compensated, enhances both psychological and economic well-being.

Those who nevertheless prefer long-term unemployment while living at a minimal standard of comfort may in many cases be struggling with psychological challenges. Such individuals should primarily receive mental health support rather than social condemnation.

Abuse and Structural Responsibility

Abuse of welfare systems can occur in any society. However, such cases represent a small minority and should not define the character of the majority. The appropriate response is not collective punishment but structural improvement.

The essential principle is that everyone should be provided with basic security. The focus should not be on the personal flaws of a few individuals — especially when such flaws often have medical or psychological explanations. Weakening social security because of limited abuse harms innocent citizens and may ultimately increase corruption and crime by creating economic insecurity.

Abuse must be addressed through rational legal mechanisms, not through the dismantling of social protection.

Work Should Pay — But Poverty Must Not Be the Alternative

A general principle can be observed: when work exists and provides real economic benefit, most people prefer to work. Experience shows that employment improves both mental health and financial stability.

However, when work is unavailable, a citizen should not be forced into homelessness or extreme poverty. In any society, individuals are interconnected. Structural poverty can become a collective nightmare. Extreme inequality fosters corruption, crime, and social instability.

It is therefore unreasonable to argue: “I work, so everyone else must work.” Unemployment is a natural and unavoidable phenomenon in modern societies, particularly with technological advancement and automation reducing labor demand. The destiny of the unemployed must never be sleeping on the streets.

When Work Becomes a Privilege

In countries such as the Nordic states, work is often experienced as a privilege rather than a curse. Working environments are healthier, wages are encouraging, and labor rights are protected. Under such conditions, most people genuinely want to work.

In contrast, in countries governed by outdated capitalist structures, work can become a form of torment — something one is forced to endure merely to survive. Working conditions should be attractive and dignified, not oppressive.

Public welfare systems and labor laws should therefore be structured so that employment significantly improves quality of life rather than merely preventing starvation. When work becomes a genuine privilege instead of a desperate necessity, exploitation and undeclared labor decrease considerably.

Structural Challenges

If an unemployed individual is neither financially secure nor psychologically supported — and if no framework exists to encourage improvement and reintegration — then the fault lies in the system, not in the individual. Structural problems must not be used to stigmatize those already deprived of employment.

Taxes as Social Insurance — Not Charity

Those who work and pay taxes do so primarily to secure a higher standard of living and greater personal stability. Attractive wages and favorable working conditions are already rewards in themselves.

Taxation, in this context, functions as a form of collective insurance. It ensures that during illness, unemployment, or crisis, individuals are protected. It also reduces poverty, moderates inequality, decreases corruption and crime, and enhances public goods such as healthcare, transportation, and infrastructure.

Such a secure and prosperous society is better equipped to tolerate even unavoidable inequalities — including the existence of economic elites — without collapsing into social instability.

Conclusion

There is therefore no justification for resentment or “folklore of meanness.” A well-structured welfare system does not punish workers; it protects society as a whole. When work is fairly rewarded and social security is guaranteed, both the individual and the collective benefit.

A secure society is not a burden — it is a rational investment in stability, dignity, and long-term prosperity.