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We were all really jazzed about that healthcare CEO getting killed, and then when they arrested Luigi my coworker was like, "He was quite privileged, you know," like we aren't allowed to like the guy anymore.

don't make hating them your top priority

So much this. I grew up fairly less affluent than most. I was once accused of being secretly rich because “no one would dress that poor on purpose”. And I’ve had a few less than stellar altercations with kids from rich families. Suffice it to say, I resented the fuck out of people with money/privilege; I still do. It’s a toxic mindset, and it drags you down and through the mud with no benefit. That old adage of “comparison is the thief of joy” really is true. Don’t let anyone steal your joy; especially yourself.

I think you can argue that building things is an art in itself.

If you didn't have to worry about paying the bills, you would have more freedom to spend a little more money or time on things that you are building. To me that crosses into the art category. There's plenty of architecture, furniture or cars that I call art just because those people had more funding and time.

I disagree with the specific argument, but agree with the principle.

I think this is more palatable to Republicans:

• require businesses to offer the cash value of any benefits a business offers if the employee refuses it
• remove any tax benefits employers get for offering benefits, as well as any group discounts
• make emergency care free - ambulances, ER, airlifts, etc
• pass a negative income tax in lieu of welfare programs and Social Security - get cash up to the poverty line for no income, and the benefits drop up to some multiple of the poverty line (NIT, similar impact as UBI)
• expand medicare for those traditional insurance won't cover for a reasonable amount (basically caps medical costs, while keeping the market competitive)

Basically, this preserves the private medical care system, strips any leverage companies have over you, and ensures everyone can afford it. Since unemployed people get cash, they can choose to try starting a business instead of being a wage slave if they can't get a good job. The benefits would be low enough it would encourage people to work, but high enough that you're not screwed if you can't find work.

The goal should be for everyone to afford medical care regardless of means, not to have the government in control of medical care. I think this option is more palatable to those who want less government, and it also shouldn't impact taxes too much.

Lack of healthcare is one of the biggest reasons I’ve never gone freelance for my programming work.

Seriously. Think of how many people would do something amazing if they could risk a gap in their employment without losing healthcare.

Same, I've tried and failed way too much. I almost failed a high school drawing class that was pass/fail because I bombed my final (teacher thought I was slacking off... I'm just really slow). I tried one of those do it yourself drawing courses and gave up after a few months after making little progress. I've tried and it's not for me.

I am decent at software dev though. If I have spare time, I'll work on personal projects, but after a full time job and young kids, there just isn't much left over. I'm in the middle of a P2P reddit alternative and a strategy game, but neither will be finished anytime soon.

I think those projects are artistic expression as well, because I'm building it not to get paid, but to add something beautiful to the world. I'm sure you have something like that as well.

Not all art is drawing. Music is a big one. If you don't know how to play music you have electronic music.

If you still want something more plastic, there are forms of graphic art that do not rely on manual drawing abilities. You can do 3d renders for instance. But also several stiles that do not requiere much ability. You can even code a piece of art through a generative algorithm in something like p5.

There's also photography, and video.

Writing, from poetry to full novels.

Art is limitless.

Everybody has an inability to draw until they learn how.

I've never considered myself an artistic person, but many years ago I was laid off and had a few months of time to fill, and in a surprise to myself, I started making pixel art animations and absolutely loved it. It fulfilled some sort of latent creative need that I didn't realize was there until I had the time.

I think many of us would be surprised at what parts of our personalities come out when not suppressed by the daily grind.