Gregory's Server@scottsantens Each of these experiments is about granting some money to people who really need it. It is absolutely right thing to do. "Universal income" is about granting money also to people, who don't need them and who are going to spend them on new smartphone, new laptop, another flat for rent... That will make prices of these goods rise dramatically making lives of poor people even worse.
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@dmaonR The problem is, that there really are people who speak about giving additional money to everybody. Some even go as far as suggesting to scrap all social benefits poor people have now and replace them with extra money for everybody.  @stamberry @scottsantens In many countries, you need a smartphone, a laptop, and a flat. Maybe not in yours. @ahltorp @scottsantens Exactly. Making these goods more expensive is not going to help poor people. That's the reason I gave this example. @stamberry @scottsantens How would it be less affordable to poor people if they get more money? @ahltorp If only poor people get extra money, nothing special will happen and these people will be able to buy what they really need. All ideas for "basic income" that I have read about, were like "lets give some amount per month to EVERYBODY, including rich people". If that would happen, inflation is going to eat all the benefit the poor people would get. I really think there's no better option than supporting poor people with money, but this support must be selective.  I would love to be able to afford the kind of proactive thinking that would allow me to get a new laptop this weekend before the wheezy 2011 number I bought used abruptly breathes its last and leaves me hanging. Or, y'know, maybe just get this one fixed if that's possible. But I can't afford that. UBI now, please. @xenophora I'm not against poor people buying laptops or smartphones. I'm against giving additional money to people who don't need them, because they will buy new "laptop and smartphone" quicker than the poor. The prices of these very important things will quickly raise so much that poor again will not be able to buy them. Help should be directed to people who need it. |
@stamberry @scottsantens
This is a solvable problem. No one is seriously suggesting we start handing out large checks. UBI must be a comprehensive plan includes income taxes, payroll taxes, minimum wage, all the other welfare benefits. It wouldn't be easy but we know it is a problem. Thank you for stating the obvious.