7 years ago
4
A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
Now and then a worthy economic proposal comes along that seems as politically unattainable as it is sensible. Then, on closer inspection, you see that it's more than a policy-wonk's fantasy. And you wonder whether it could actually prevail. This may be happening with the concept of a universal basic income. The notion that government should guarantee every citizen an annual stipend of, say, $10,000 -- no strings attached, no questions asked -- is being studied by politicians, economists...
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In theory, millions of people earning decent wages in government jobs to administer social programs, which should be eliminated (that's the fine print here) would be laid off and given a basic wage. People in turn would be further tethered to an already onerous and overbearing oligarchical bureaucracy who in their infinite wisdom will determine what they feel you need to survive. And once you are tethered, you are not going to get free from the clutches of the rulers. It will not set you free, this move.
I'm sorry, giving any more control of our very existence to a nameless machine is insanity to me. And it WILL be a machine calculating your needs and doling out your daily bread. Welcome to the future.
I think they should do this and also legalize marijuana nation wide while they are at it.
Progress is slow, but sure to happen soon enough. It's too bad we are so damn linear when it comes to good policy.
This is the only way I will ever get behind it, if it is a replacement for all the stuff already on the books and comes in reasonable close to what we already pay, the only difference is that this new minimum income will be open to all not just some. If that means some lose out on some benefits so others get benefits, so be it.