Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)
33. You really think Yang's UBI is the better deal?
Wed Jun 24, 2020, 08:57 AM
Jun 2020

Andrew Yang wants to sell you universal basic income. Beware if you have disabilities.

Andrew Yang’s success, however, demands that Americans take him seriously as a candidate. Unfortunately, he and his campaign make this task difficult, particularly when it comes to disability policy. Every major candidate has addressed the issue of care for disabled and elderly Americans. And while no platform is perfect, most candidates have a basic understanding of the social safety net, or at least their advisers do. Except maybe Yang’s.

On Monday, Yang finally released his health care policy plan, with a section on people with disabilities. I read it. I also read his book, The War on Normal People, combed his website on details about disability programs, and asked his campaign for comment. And as a disabled person who has relied on various social safety net programs in the past, I am still left confused as to how disability benefits would be affected by the centerpiece of Yang’s policies, universal basic income, or what he calls the Freedom Dividend. His health care policies for disabled people also raise more questions than answers.

How Yang’s Freedom Dividend affects disability benefits
With the Freedom Dividend, the government would pay every American $1,000 per month, no strings attached. This is unlikely to ever make it through Congress. But let’s say, for the sake of argument, that it did. Then what would happen to disability benefits?

It is difficult to analyze the impact of the Freedom Dividend on other social safety net programs like Social Security, Medicaid, or food stamps. Andrew Yang’s new health care plan and the “Care for People with Disabilities” section say absolutely nothing on the matter. When Vox contacted Yang’s campaign for clarification, his national press secretary insisted that Yang’s plan “touches on aspects” of disability benefits, but did not explain how or in what way. I was repeatedly given answers and sent links to parts of the website that were totally irrelevant to the questions I’d asked.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/first-person/2019/12/19/21026925/andrew-yang-disability-policy

Kahn supported Yang's UBI.

I am very glad. nt marie999 Jun 2020 #1
I see what you did there JHB Jun 2020 #2
... BlueMTexpat Jun 2020 #9
Close? ROFL malaise Jun 2020 #3
She really is Bettie Jun 2020 #23
Damn, a squeaker! tazkcmo Jun 2020 #4
Yay! North Shore Chicago Jun 2020 #5
I lulz'd KG Jun 2020 #6
I guess the "far left" brings out Democratic voters. gab13by13 Jun 2020 #7
Wow, what a nail biter!!! 😳😧😕 Person of Interest Jun 2020 #8
No fair! TheRickles Jun 2020 #10
Lol! demmiblue Jun 2020 #11
I think I've seen that posters opinion often. At least 162 times. Autumn Jun 2020 #12
They can't lie about her enough to make people dislike her. BComplex Jun 2020 #18
76% of the vote? That girl needs to work harder Autumn Jun 2020 #13
She probably ought to resign. Voltaire2 Jun 2020 #14
I'm not aware that anyone suggested this race would be competitive... brooklynite Jun 2020 #15
I'm pretty sure a few people here were Voltaire2 Jun 2020 #16
Even this very disengaged, casual observer from CO read her opponent's resume and thought WTF? hlthe2b Jun 2020 #17
Look at how many briefly supported Bloomberg's pres bid. Nt Humanist_Activist Jun 2020 #19
No one thought the contest was going to be competitive. PTWB Jun 2020 #40
and now nobody here ever supported that troll Cabrera. Voltaire2 Jun 2020 #43
The Title of your post almost got me. berni_mccoy Jun 2020 #20
24,460 people voted for AOC. Just to keep things in perspective R B Garr Jun 2020 #21
Not what you expected, eh? RandiFan1290 Jun 2020 #22
24,460 R B Garr Jun 2020 #24
why did you support a false flag rightwing extremist? Voltaire2 Jun 2020 #27
I thought Kahn was really the better deal, actually. R B Garr Jun 2020 #28
You really think Yang's UBI is the better deal? JonLP24 Jun 2020 #33
LOL, did you see the debate with all three candidates?? R B Garr Jun 2020 #34
UBI is Kahn's position JonLP24 Jun 2020 #37
A lot of these issues that are thrown out aren't really serious considerations. R B Garr Jun 2020 #38
In this thread: Mariana Jun 2020 #31
lol RandiFan1290 Jun 2020 #32
That means 24,460 people didn't vote for Michelle Caruso-Cabrera. That's some perspective for you. Autumn Jun 2020 #25
but did they know about AMAZON?!!11 RandiFan1290 Jun 2020 #26
They knew enough not to vote for a RWer pretending to be a Democrat. Autumn Jun 2020 #29
Now the trolls on on to their next excuse RandiFan1290 Jun 2020 #36
She raiseed way too much money and none of it came from her district!!!! Autumn Jun 2020 #39
Not really a fan of her, but... Happy Hoosier Jun 2020 #30
I guess you can only fool edhopper Jun 2020 #35
..... Blue_true Jun 2020 #41
With only 76%, I guess the honeymoon with AOC is over... SKKY Jun 2020 #42
I love AOC and her performance was spectacular to behold. PTWB Jun 2020 #44
That was a close one! progressoid Jun 2020 #45
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»NY 14 AOC edges out right...»Reply #33