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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUniversal Basic Income II
I know that UBI is a Tech Bro kind of idea, but it might work as a Democratic Policy. It would vastly simplify the Federal Bureaucracy. All Federal Workers that lose their jobs in the Process would be eligible for UBI and could go off of UBI if they were willing and able. The Federal Government could be saved. We need to defend and restore the NIH and other Crown Jewels of American Civilization. We could also get a lot of former Republican voters with such a policy when we regain control of the House in 2026. Just an idea.
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DanBaron
(105 posts)Worth a read if you have the time.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220471512
lapfog_1
(31,569 posts)1) the income derived will not be sufficient to have a real life ( buy a house, take a vacation, etc )
2) People are actually happier if they are rewarded for work
OTOH there is the likely necessity of UBI because of automation and AI.
But the rich ( owner class ) will scream about it all the time. And the people that still work in jobs not taken by automation, but not part of the owner class, will feel taken advantage of.
I think it would be better to simply index minimum wage to the rate of real inflation ( cost of groceries, energy, and housing ).
DanBaron
(105 posts)Good Comment but I think this was addressed in the other thread. People who want to work would still work. UBI could be supplemented by part time work. Recipients could go off of UBI if they earned say $20,000 dollars more than their base UBI plus part time salary. So a full time job that pays $20,000 dollars more a year would enable full time employment. It might work.
SickOfTheOnePct
(8,710 posts)It's not really UBI.
harumph
(3,084 posts)It would be used as a pretext to eliminate ANY entitlements. Let's say you get $20,000 or so UBI. The rich will say, "Oh, you don't need SS, Medicare, etc., because you get a government stipend." See how that works. You know that's what they'd do. Even though those benefits likely add up to much more than the value of the UBI itself. UBI would absolutely be used as part of bait and switch scheme. I'm suspect of anyone pushing UBI.
You could be right. I think that if UBI went into effect with Medicare for All we would have a large savings and again, the economy should boom. Maybe implement UBI incrementally and along with Medicare for All. The Biden Economic Investments need to be brought back even as some are being implemented. I think that this all l good work being posted here. DU Think Tank.
SickOfTheOnePct
(8,710 posts)And there isn't enough money brought in by the government to pay for it.
DanBaron
(105 posts)If there is a solution it is by increasing the size of the economy overall. Booming economy, more tax revenue. I respect your numbers though.
Dave says
(5,312 posts)Not likely, but possible.
Dave says
(5,312 posts)What you describe is what will likely happen.
Dave says
(5,312 posts)UBI would be “universal”, paid to everyone working or not. It keeps it from becoming a welfare program. Like Social Security. Almost everyone gets it when they reach full retirement age (or receive less if they choose to get it before that but are at least 62). And, of course, if disabled payout can begin even younger.
Maybe with UBI one can’t afford the finer things in life, but with 100% coverage, one can choose to work to augment the basic income. I think most of us would choose to work. Some might choose to paint or write or just read great literature instead. But the choice to work or not work would be there.
And, with AGI, we will need something like this. Many if not most of us will be out of a job.
I need to note that I am a loyal Democrat in case there was any confusion.
DanBaron
(105 posts)I would add that the NIH and the other Agencies and Departments that have been damaged by this current Administration need to be restored. I think Democrats allied with some more Moderate Republicans could retake the House and Senate in 2026 and we could get past the American Trauma that we have gone through these past six months. Constructive and Reasonable comments are welcome and I am always open to corrections and discussion.
LogDog75
(1,060 posts)Questions concerning UNI:
1. How much will it cost?
2. How will we pay for it?
3. Who manages the programs? The federal government or the states?
a. Will the states have to accept UBI like they do Medicaid?
b. If the states manage it, what safeguards will be in place to prevent the states from denying people UNI?
UBI is a nice concept but there are a lot of details that have to be worked out first.
The costs are addressed in the Original Thread if you have the time and energy to read it. I will try to repost it here when I have more time and energy myself.
DanBaron
(105 posts)I am not an economist and I do not have all the numbers. I would add that UBI could be supplemented by a part time job. And a Recipient could go off of UBI if they could earn more than say $ 20,000 dollars above their base of UBI and part time pay combined. All that money would mostly feed Landlords, Supermarkets, and Pharmacies. The Economy would boom. Crime would go down significantly as people would not have to resort to desperate acts to survive. Word needs to get out. This is a decent policy idea. Feel free to cut, paste and edit this post and send this information to your elected officials.
DanBaron
(105 posts)Current American GDP is just under $30 Trillion Dollars. $20,000 dollars a year per person would be roughly $7 Trillion, less if folks would work instead. I think that UBI might work. Federal Employees that lost jobs would be eligible for UBI and would find other work. There would still be Federal Jobs and Careers. NIH and the other Crown Jewels of American Civilization need to be defended and restored. We will retake the Congress in 2026. We need to defend the integrity of the election infrastructure. I believe that they did actually rig the last election for Trump. I believe that it is statistically impossible for Trump to have won the swing states that he did. Qualitatively Harris had the momentum and a mobilized electorate. There needs to be an investigation of that election.
purple_haze
(401 posts)I remember when Yang mentioned it during his campaign.
creeksneakers2
(7,910 posts)DanBaron
(105 posts)But the Younger Generation seems to be in favor of it. There will still be a Private Sector to work in. The would still be a Public Sector as well. Elders would still have Retirement on top of that if they have some Retirement other than Social Security. So I don't know. It might work.
creeksneakers2
(7,910 posts)of old folks being carried out of nursing homes and dumped at the curb. We have full blown Fascism putting down roots. I suggest we concentrate on defense for the immediate future.