I think its a good time to start a conversation about Universal Basic Income. It seems like most politicians are against it. In fact, Bernie Sanders recently abandoned any support for UBI and instead is going all in on a jobs guaranteed.

There is a good thread on Twitter from Scott Santens on why a job guarantee is the wrong way to go.

https://twitter.com/scottsantens/sta...56622857383936

We have been becoming more productive and still working 40 hours a week without higher hourly compensation. We need to shift the power back to the people.

I think UBI is the best way to go forward but with any major policy shift I can't be 100% it will work.

I'm shocked that more progressives are not for it though. Please tell me what I am missing.

What's the range being considered by UBI proponents as far as amounts given per month? Are there stipulations in place on earnings so people earning comfortable livings wouldn't get UBI?

Do UBI proponents advocate for this being in addition to other safety nets currently in place, or instead of all / some of them?

Glad we finally have a third thread about this.

Andrew Yang's proposal is $1000 per month to all adults over the age of 18.

It is not means tested.

It would not be in addition to other safety nets. However if you like your current benefits you can keep them. You just would not get the UBI as well.

Me too!!!!

In America there are enough jobs to earn 1000 bucks a month or more. A lot of people really dont want to work. They think they deserve a mansion, boat, nice tv, top smart phone, vacations, just for showing up. **** having to earn anything right? The playing field does need to be leveled a bit, but just giving money away for being alive is no good. A place to live for to little or free perhaps where you can make money and get yourself right would be fine with me. The real problem is people need to humble themselves in America and work. You deserve nothing but a chance. Anyways goodluck with this, I know we need change, but handouts ia not it.

Giving everyone the same amount of money ? BORING. Leave it up to to the Big Wheel!

It's not a hand out. It's a dividend for living in this country.

When you say people don't want to work, what percentage of people in your estimation don't want to work?

Also 1000 a month wont make it to where you don't have to work.

I think the beard looks really good on Don Jr

Helps to hide his face

What happens when the only way to survive is by exchanging your labor for money and it turns out your labor is not needed?

FOOD FIGHT!

We’ll have robots to throw fruit for us, tho.

Enough with this scare-mongering. If the robots start doing food fights, it will just allow more people to dedicate more time to panty raids and cow-tipping.

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/361

https://twitter.com/scottsantens/sta...71720395034625

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3daMvR0NeG8

Sorry, I should have been more clear. We already have programs designed to provide assistance to families in need. Whether the programs are adequately calibrated is wholly another issue.

One of the critiques I see about UBI is that it doesn't do enough for poor people.

It will make communities and families stronger.

It will allow people to invest in themselves more.

In the other thread, you did not respond to the points I raised about UBI Alaska's higher-than-average wealth disparity & cost of living.


And for some reason, their GDP has been shrinking during the current economic boom (cit):

Date	US Per-Capita GDP	Alaska Per-Capita GDP	Alaska Population
2016	$50,577	$63,971	741,894
2015	$50,155	$67,705	737,709
2014	$49,253	$67,411	736,705
2013	$48,538	$69,700	736,879
2012	$48,173	$73,478	731,089
2011	$47,595	$70,573	722,713
2010	$47,287	$69,564	714,031
2009	$46,680	$72,204	698,895
2008	$48,401	$67,527	687,455
2007	$49,126	$67,228	680,300
2006	$48,880	$64,349	675,302

I don't understand why we need to give free money to people who are already doing well.

I'm not an expert on Alaska. The data I have read states that Alaska maintains one of the lowest poverty rates in the United States and in the 2000's it helped Alaska become the only US state in which equality rose rather than fell.

Also the dividend in Alaska is only 1000-2000 per year. So it's not a perfect test.

Political economy. Much harder to cut social insurance programs that middle class as well as poor people receive. Also, you remove the work disincentive problems of means-tested assistance.

It's not free money. It's a dividend for living in the Unites States. It's going to be paid for by additional taxes. There is nothing free about it.

People who are doing well are going to be paying more of the taxes. So they will be benefiting less from the UBI.

I would also be curious on what your definition of doing well is?