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I don't see how giving people money for doing nothing is going to help ANYONE. I know plenty of people right now who DO NOTHING and have figured out a way to play video games all day, and drink beer. How will a no-strings-attached check every month help them in ANY way, when they have already figured out a way to not work. UBI is just the most naive, idiotic idea I have EVER heard. How naive can you be to think that some loser is going to go out and create a brilliant start up if you just throw money at them??? I should go to work every day, pay taxes, so some jackass can be a sculptor (which is a hobby, by the way) or at worse, sit on her or his ass?
I listened to a YT interview with yang. Most telling quote, "Listen, I took an economics course in college, and..."
Yes, and what does he mean by everyone? My husband and I aren't rich, but we are solidly middle-class with an annual income of slightly more than $100k, and when we retire next year, we won't need any additional money -- so Yang says we will get an extra $1,000 a month anyway? And I am sure we are not the only ones who would rather forego the extra money if it means supplementing the lazy. (And, no, I am not saying that everyone who is struggling is lazy -- in fact, I would say the great majority of poor people are not lazy, but have either made poor choices or have been the victims of bad luck!) However, I don't think that anyone who is poor because s/he is lazy should be rewarded for that!
Last edited by katharsis; 10-16-2019 at 10:43 AM..
I'm sorry, but I don't really know because we have never met our yearly deductible! I think it is about $2,500 a year, with most co-pays being about $20 for both prescriptions and office visits, I think -- I personally have only been to see a doctor twice in the last ten years, and my husband just pays at the time of visit or when he picks up a prescription. (Yes, we have been lucky, which I willingly admit.) Our biggest expenses have been for tests.
Yes, and what does he mean by everyone? My husband and I aren't rich, but we are solidly middle-class with an annual income of slightly more than $100k, and when we retire next year, we won't need any additional money -- so Yang says we will get an extra $1,000 a month anyway? And I am sure we are not the only ones who would rather forego the extra money if it means supplementing the lazy. (And, no, I am not saying that everyone who is struggling is lazy -- in fact, I would say the great majority of poor people are not lazy, but have either made poor choices or have been the victims of bad luck!) However, I don't think that anyone who is poor because s/he is lazy should be rewarded for that!
If it benefits the nation as a whole, I dont see why not. After all, you have to think about the opportunity costs. Whats the cost of homelessness in America? The prison system? The cost of people not having the money to get back on their feet and be productive? I think its more important to look at the big picture instead of being too obsessed with "the lazy".
If it benefits the nation as a whole, I dont see why not. After all, you have to think about the opportunity costs. Whats the cost of homelessness in America? The prison system? The cost of people not having the money to get back on their feet and be productive? I think its more important to look at the big picture instead of being too obsessed with "the lazy".
I think I understand your point, but I think that this is one more example of how the Democrats are trying to turn this nation into a country that I would no longer like at all.
In my opinion, the U.S. became great because of its workers of all classes. (As I meant to imply, there are plenty of poor people who are very hard workers.) I am a senior, so I grew up with ideas like "you work for what you get" and "if you don't work, you don't eat." (Of course, that only applied to people who COULD work, of course!) I think the U.S. is getting away from that kind of work ethic, and I don't like it one bit.
Compassion is fine and good for those who deserve it, but that idea -- that people should actually earn what they receive, at least for the most part -- is rapidly becoming passe' among many Democrats, I think.
So I think that before any kind of vote comes up regarding any kind of "Medicare for All", we taxpayers had better know EXACTLY how much it will really cost us!
I agree 110%
I pay $595.00 a month to BCBS with a 10k deduct
If I have any major issues, I'll have to become a Socialistic Democrat
I think I understand your point, but I think that this is one more example of how the Democrats are trying to turn this nation into a country that I would no longer like at all.
In my opinion, the U.S. became great because of its workers of all classes. (As I meant to imply, there are plenty of poor people who are very hard workers.) I am a senior, so I grew up with ideas like "you work for what you get" and "if you don't work, you don't eat." (Of course, that only applied to people who COULD work, of course!) I think the U.S. is getting away from that kind of work ethic, and I don't like it one bit.
Compassion is fine and good for those who deserve it, but that idea -- that people should actually earn what they receive, at least for the most part -- is rapidly becoming passe' among many Democrats, I think.
So you grew up in the post-war period where labor unions were strong, taxes on the rich significantly higher, inequality was much lower, the minimum wage was much higher and democrats pushed through policies like Medicare which the right warned would destroy the American spirit?
In third world countries, it is indeed true that if you dont work, you dont eat, but countries dont really become great because of that. In fact, among developed countries, America has one of the lowest labor force participation rates, while countries with much stronger public safety nets have more people in their labor force.
Considering how low this UBI really is, I fail to see how it will turn Americans into lazy people.
So you grew up in the post-war period where labor unions were strong, taxes on the rich significantly higher, inequality was much lower, the minimum wage was much higher and democrats pushed through policies like Medicare which the right warned would destroy the American spirit?
In third world countries, it is indeed true that if you dont work, you dont eat, but countries dont really become great because of that. In fact, among developed countries, America has one of the lowest labor force participation rates, while countries with much stronger public safety nets have more people in their labor force.
Considering how low this UBI really is, I fail to see how it will turn Americans into lazy people.
Yes, I agree with the first and second paragraphs.
However, I don't believe and didn't say that a UBI would turn Americans into lazy people -- I only said that I don't like rewarding people for being lazy.
Based both on many years of life experience and reading forums like these, I think that some people will work hard "no matter what" and some people will try very hard to get out of doing any kind of work they don't like. Of course, having or doing a job one likes does have a great deal to do with having a good work ethic! If someone doesn't want a job flipping burgers at McDonald's for the rest of his or her life, then s/he should think about staying in school, learning a trade, or developing some valuable job skills.
Last edited by katharsis; 10-16-2019 at 12:12 PM..
The cost of people not having the money to get back on their feet and be productive? I think its more important to look at the big picture instead of being too obsessed with "the lazy".
We saw "be productive" in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Free $100 cash cards that went to liquor, smokes, lottery tickets, and lap dances.
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