One question that comes up a lot when I try to explain the idea of citizens being required to contribute more than they consume has to do with the question of those who, because of physical or mental disability, are unable to work. This is a subject close to my heart, and I want to make sure that its properly addressed. To start with, very few citizens are likely to fall into this category. Unlike our current system, where being able to work also requires being able to obtain and hold down a job consistantly, the technosocialist SNA system allows people to earn Contribution credit whenever they can and without having to overcome discrimination from those with hiring authority.
Those with physical disabilities would still have a variety of ways to earn Contribution credit through intellectual and artistic work. Remember that it is always possible to earn Contribution credit by gaining an education and by educating others. Between education, music, writing, computer programming, and all of the other occupations that do not require physical exhersion, it should be possible for most of those with physical disabilities to continue to earn a normal living. For those disabled later in life, they may need to retrain themselves if their previous occupation was largely physical in nature, but even that retraining would earn Contribution credit for them under a technosocialist system.
Mental disabilities are more difficult to generalize about, but again the flexibility of the SNA system should allow nearly anyone to earn a normal living. For those with intellectual disabilities who might have difficulties navigating through the SNA system, group homes and caretakers need to be available to provide assistance. Those with panic or mood disorders can simply design their worklife around their limitations with the help of the SNA. Because technosocialism dequantizes labor as much as possibile, someone who suffers from migranes does not need to be able to show up for work every day for years at a time to build a career, they simply need to work when they feel well wnough. Those on the autism spectrum should be just dandy, since this entire system is being designed by one of their own and is in some ways tailored to their requirements.
There will of course be those with a combination of physical and mental disabilities who find themselves entirely unable to earn Contribution credit. The main provision for them is the fact that they are still due their Material Rights, and are thus entitled to housing, food, medical care, etc. without any increase in their Consumption score. People in this condition are likely to be under the full-time care of the medical establishment, and thus we can further close the gap by saying that those who are hospitalized or otherwise under full-time care are entitled to some extra leeway in choosing their food, clothing, etc. under their Material Rights.
This might seem an unfairly spartan existance for those with severe disabilities, but it is actually considerably better than the one they are entitled to under our current system. While the United States does have a rudimentary safety net for those with disabilities, it is made up of far more holes than net. It is extremely difficult to qualify as disabled, and generally requires the disabled person to hire a lawyer. Once one’s disability is finally recognized by the government, the income provided is frequently too paltry to pay for independent housing and food, let alone anything else. And the earning of any income outside of one’s disability payments can lead to permanent disqualification. The technosocialist model makes it as easy as possible for people to earn Contribution credit, and then says that even those who cannot earn anything at all are still entitled to more than modern disability payments generally afford them.
Proper care for the disabled affects more than simply those citizens who require such care. It also affects the society as a whole. What most citizens want above all else is security, and the security of knowing that whatever happens, they will not have to worry about ending up without a home or without food is an incredible feeling. This is the main role of the concept of Material Rights. It says to each citizen “you do not need to worry. Whatever happens to you, you will not starve. Your children will not starve. You will still have a way to contribute to society, and in return society will take care of you.” Once citizens are freed from that fear of poverty and homelessness, they can better enjoy their lives. The sword of Damacles that is illness or injury is removed, and the parts of their minds that had been taken up with worry and fear are freed to do greater and more productive things.