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Here's how math, human nature and all of recorded history of socialism feel about UBI:
Cost of living average, before UBI = $X
Cost of living average, with UBI = $X + UBI.
Welcome to how artificially inflating any money supply works. If the local store is making a 5% profit margin right now, and tomorrow they know every customer in their entire market can afford to pay 20% more, guess what exact percentage they raise all their prices by, over some amount of time to make it seem natural? If you guessed...uhm...20%, then move to the front of the class.
So what I know is that it will be rendered moot within a year of being implemented, but once implemented, it can never be backed out and only increased, based on the above guaranteed economic outcome. This knowledge about economics, as well as how little our government tends to care about economics, makes me sad, angry and afraid.
The notion of a UBI is really popular, do you think it could work?
"Really popular" with whom, socialists/communists?
If it starts, you will never be able to have politicians muster the will to get rid of it, as every social program or government subsidy never ends one it starts, even if the need no longer exists. They just reallocate the money to other places.
Aside from that, many peoples human nature is not to work as hard or at all if they are getting "free" money.
Look no further than what is already happening today with a bunch of people who would rather sit at home watching TV, playing video games, etc. because they are getting enough money to not make it worth it to them to get a job.
I know this for a fact (as do many other business owners) because I am now down two employees, and cannot find anyone to work at a rate of pay I can afford, and still pay my own expenses/bills. The main reason is that if they start working again, they lose their government money (i.e. the working taxpayers money).
It is helping to create lazy zombies who are not building their careers and putting away for retirement. Of course one of the motivators to work is health insurance, but with the Obamacare rubbish, they will bank on that as well as a reason not to work.
None of that even takes into account all those that have been on generational welfare/medicaid for decades. We are already at a tipping point where 50% of people do not pay taxes, which puts extra burdens on those who do work.
So UBI will just create more non-workers than we already have today.
I'm a conservative person, both socially and politically. I'm open to giving it a try with very strict control and qualifications. To me... The whole point must be to move people from government dependence to government independence. If the program could be administered following the concept of "teach a man to fish" then I see the benefit.
However the best predictor of the future is the past. The longest most costly war in dollars and lives we have ever entered and fought...is the war on poverty.
I want people who have the inner desire to succeed to do just that. If you're gonna be 'hanger-on'er, then NO. If you need that hand to get you over the top, and you'll do what ever you can to get there... then I'm all in.
It's very terrible idea. Basically say hello to inflation. The reason why colleges /university gone up so much all started with financial aid. When that wasn't enough, government started offering loans. Minimum wage depending on how much it goes up, can sometimes as well lead to inflation. You add billions of dollars to economy and everything will go up in price.
edit:I would support some type of real solutions housing for homeless but not ubi
They made a trial run of it over in Germany. I don't know where I read the article, maybe BIEN, but the results, the people it was given to, put it the money in the bank rather than spend it. That upset the German government.
"Really popular" with whom, socialists/communists?
If it starts, you will never be able to have politicians muster the will to get rid of it, as every social program or government subsidy never ends one it starts, even if the need no longer exists. They just reallocate the money to other places.
Aside from that, many peoples human nature is not to work as hard or at all if they are getting "free" money.
Look no further than what is already happening today with a bunch of people who would rather sit at home watching TV, playing video games, etc. because they are getting enough money to not make it worth it to them to get a job.
I know this for a fact (as do many other business owners) because I am now down two employees, and cannot find anyone to work at a rate of pay I can afford, and still pay my own expenses/bills. The main reason is that if they start working again, they lose their government money (i.e. the working taxpayers money).
It is helping to create lazy zombies who are not building their careers and putting away for retirement. Of course one of the motivators to work is health insurance, but with the Obamacare rubbish, they will bank on that as well as a reason not to work.
None of that even takes into account all those that have been on generational welfare/medicaid for decades. We are already at a tipping point where 50% of people do not pay taxes, which puts extra burdens on those who do work.
So UBI will just create more non-workers than we already have today.
You'd think so right? But with all the added spending in retail, retail would have to hire additional employees to handle the influx --- the government has been subsiding the grocery market, since the mid 60s. If that money did not exist in the grocery supply chain, there would be fewer grocery stores. Oh and since a person will get this money even though they are employed --- the employers would have to treat employees better to keep them from walking out the door. So there's that ...
Having been in Upper Management for a Bio-tech start-up which eventually became an IPO - I always wanted to distribute the success of the company to every employee. And the best way to do that is Profit Sharing, whether in Bonuses or Stock.
Why should only the Upper Management enjoy high salaries, bonuses, benefits and stock?
They've been throwing around this idea since the days of Nixon; they tested it out then too.
I would want a independent 3rd party to do the evaluations. I do not trust government employees or the media to give the 'whole picture'. I've read about Stockton CA trial... looks promising but is VERY bias.
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