So, it's been a while since Universal Basic Income has been a topic. I looked it up and Basic Income trials continue to this day. And I got the sense that they are a smashing success every single time they are tried. But, of course, it doesn't affect policy at all, ever. And it isn't supported by any politicians. And the question isn't about how to pay for it. The answer is everyone. The question isn't who gets paid. The answer is everyone. The problem is how is a UBI fair if someone doesn't have to earn it. Lots of people are for efforts based Income and against a community money pot.
It isn't fair and it isn't sustainable. The left is pushing this crap because they love telling people what they want to hear. Who wouldn't want paychecks for nothing? Also even if they managed to have a UBI it would never be enough to cover most rent/mortgages.
Small test runs won’t show the effects universal income would have. It would cause inflation to soar and work ethic and motivation to drop. It’s a stupid idea. So stupid it’s not even worth debating
I agree its stupid but I think its worth debating. OP isn't the only person sold on this idea of something for nothing. It seems the left thinks we can just grow money and then bring in a bunch of illegals to do the labor cheap. I mean, the idea of the money trees does sound amazing though. Got any money seeds to sell me?
UBI experiments are a "smashing success" because they are not universal. They are highly targeted toward a sliver the people who would benefit the most. Do an experiment with high net-worth individuals and get back to me on the results.
I have come into money all of my life, but many people don't. First, by working. Blessed by coming into the best family. Next by winning the disability jackpot. Then through inheritance, and again. But most people don't. Most people wind up in homeless encampments these days after their life turns sour. So, money, even a little bit of money, not a living wage, would still help them.
I dislike UBI because it doesn’t really address the root of the problem which is people not being able to afford basic necessities. If we can somehow address healthcare, childcare, food and housing it would make UBI largely unnecessary. That is under the current market we have however — if large scale automation arrives and starts removing large sectors from the transportation, food service, legal and medical sectors a UBI will move to almost being required
We couldn't afford UBI now, so I'm not clear how we could afford it after automation destroys the tax base.
Would could afford it — we are just going to have to change our tax and employment system. Moving all employees from 40 hours being full time to 32 or 24 hours has been floated, as has having extremely high tax rates for high income earners but this would need to be implemented on a global scale. Automation can bring huge cost savings in the realm of pretty much everything that needs to be transported or made as well as reductions in the cost of healthcare. The question that remains is do we allow these savings to flow into the pockets of one or two individuals or do we have it better the lives of all Americans, potentially all of mankind.
I assume Sweden or Finland will be the early adopters of this so I'll wait and see how there experiment goes after a generation or two. Or...more likely, it will never happen anywhere because it's simply ridiculous.
We need energy tax to compensate for the shift to automation. Automation requires energy. Problem is that the right opposes the tax abd the left only proposes taxes that help their special interests instead of ensuring the money goes towards essential government functions.
There are too many people these days who will live in a box if it means they don't have to work. The UBI would be just the excuse they need to live just enough to not work. It'll be like the covid checks resulting in lack of production and hyperinflation.
Honest question: the transportation and fast food industry make up around 1/3 of all jobs in the United States. Those plus jobs that require research of existing data such as many in the legal and medical profession as well as some coding are expected to be almost completely wiped out. What do you think is going to happen to society when suddenly over 1/3 of all jobs evaporate?
Most homeless encampments exist in the states with the biggest welfare pot... Most homeless encampments consist in the main of the mentally ill and the addicted and both is scarcely uncommon.
The short answer is being able to work while continuing to qualify for disability payments. Funny story. I contacted my state's (New York) social security office for information on switching to Medicare from Medicaid, as required in the third year of receiving disability benefits. When they pulled up my file, they said they were putting me in touch with a special state-contracted organization that deals with disability benefits. Instantly, when that call was completed, I received a voicemail with a dude yelling: "You've won the disability jackpot!" and they even played a jackpot-winning sound effect. "Call this number to apply for this trial work program and continue to receive benefits," said the voice. But I was already on the trial work plan and didn't call the number.
Really because when people got that free COVID money, they sure did seem to have to rush out and buy them a trampoline or something equally useless with it.