Episode 2786 CWSA 03/22/25 — Scott Adams Philosophy

but it's optional. So I'm really interested in this. So the way it works is if you need some health care I guess you pay for it but then maybe you can get reimbursed. So you say I just broke my arm and it cost me you know I don't know $1,500 to get it all wrapped up. And then other people voluntarily allow some of their money to go toward paying that but they don't have to. So you could be in the group and be a person who asks for money without being a person who ever gives any money. However here's the fun part. Your reputation will be tracked. So if you're a person who never gives to anybody else's health care, and again you're not paying all the health care because lots of people would be involved so you'd be paying your little part of it, if you never do then when you break your arm and you ask the other people in the group to help you pay for it well they're going to see that maybe you weren't paying for it so much yourself for other people and they may be a little more reluctant to pay.

Now I imagine if you're poor or you're going through bad times if you could see that i

Wisdom from this episode

"Here's the fun part. Your reputation will be tracked. So if you're a person who never gives to anybody else's health care, then when you break your arm and you ask the other people in the group to help you pay for it well they're going to see that maybe you weren't paying for it so much yourself for other people and they may be a little more reluctant to pay."

In a voluntary mutual-aid system, your reputation for contributing is tracked. People who never help cover others' costs will find the group far less willing to help them when they need it.