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TitaRusell 15 hours ago

They had something like this in the Netherlands during the 80s. Basically everyone was out of a job back then so it didn't really matter. Worst recession since 1929.

Artists had to make a buch of art which was then given to the government. The state ended up with entire warehouses filled with crap.

codingdave 8 hours ago | parent | next [-]

There was also the WPA program in the USA:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Progress_Administration

The work also included infrastructure projects, and often would create public art to decorate the infrastructure. That is why you'll see far more decorative work when looking at bridges from that era, for example.

vintermann an hour ago | parent | next [-]

There's a lot of weird and wonderful stuff from that era which came out of the WPA, like the American Guide series. I think we understand that period of time in the US on a deeper level thanks to it.

chao- 8 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I remember learning about this in high school, but grew up in a part of a large city that only really developed after the 1940's, I didn't think much of it. However, the name was catchy so I had it stashed in my memory somewhere.

As I've gone on to live in a few older cities, I have been surprised the number of times that I have (for example) come across a bridge or tunnel or whatnot and seen a big serif "WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION 1936" plaque on one side of it. It always feels like stepping into an alternate reality where history is more present and real.

It feels like a silly way to phrase it, but growing up where only a handful of buildings were older than 40 years, encountering history in a more banal form, like a simple bridge with some engravings, always feels more impactful than seeing some 500-year-old castle, monument or other touristy site.

calvinmorrison 6 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

they hired artists and builders, they had a nice run of building domestic concentration camps that would make Nancy Pelosi scream ice faster than you could blink

Daub 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Oddly enough I have just finished making the same observation and used the word 'crap' to describe the result, without even seeing your comment.

Towaway69 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Sounds a bit like if the state invested in startups … hm wait.

cjbgkagh 6 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have a feeling that this art will end up all over the walls.

its_magic 15 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

[flagged]

dpc050505 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Your mind will be blown once you discover rent seeking behaviour.

Eddy_Viscosity2 14 hours ago | parent [-]

or what 'passive income' is.

echelon_musk 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Surely you mean a worker owned factory.

jamesbelchamber 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Marxists don't like Basic Income and it's incompatible with Marxist ideology.

"Marxism" has just become thought-terminating shorthand for "thing I don't like".

LtWorf 15 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Tell me you've never opened a book from Marx

junaru 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Back in soviet times i have waited in breadlines with my parents when i was ~5 but hey we were just doing it wrong...

AngryData 10 hours ago | parent | next [-]

And what does any of that have to do with Marx? The USSR didn't follow Marxist principles, USSR workers didn't have any voice in how businesses operate nor were they given dividends from business profits. In 95% of potential Marxist states democracy is a base requirement and the USSR didn't even manage that.

LtWorf 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I said nothing about USSR, I just stated that obviously the parent commentor hasn't read Marx.

its_magic 15 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

[flagged]

jazzpush2 14 hours ago | parent | next [-]

What an amazingly unhealthy way to have a conversation. Almost a spectacle in itself to witness.

regenschutz 14 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

>Downvote right back at ya.

You don't even have enough karma to downvote comments though..?

netruk44 14 hours ago | parent [-]

The people with green names almost certainly have alternate, primary accounts with that capability.

kakacik 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

This ain't OK here, and you know it. Why the emotions? Its just another topic, you can't change anything here and definitely not people's opinions with such approach.

Double that when creating a new account just to post hateful speech all over this thread. Why don't you own your own opinions?

its_magic 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Oh look, it's the Tone Police. I didn't know those guys were on HN.

bikelang 14 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

[flagged]