The Big Red Button Argument for Universal Basic Income (UBI)

https://www.scottsantens.com/the-big-red-button-argument-for-unconditional-universal-basic-income-ubi/

by 2noame • 3 years ago

3 1 3 years ago

A fundamentally flawed idea that will murder ambition, innovation, and depress and large segment of the population. UBI will ensure few people grab hold of the drive that lifts them out of poverty. It will ensure a UBI-class of people who consume far more than they produce, and the burden to meet this gap will be carried by those who, despite the availability of "free" money, will still want to be productive, innovative, and successful.

We're talking 3 trillion dollars just to give 1000/month to everyone. That's roughly half of today's budget. $1000 is not enough to live in most places in the USA. This may force some to work, however, people will find a way to skirt by, even if it means living in terrible conditions.

A large segment of the population will find the lowest common point, and they will not budge from it. For them, the incentive to work is gone if basic needs are met. At some point, you reach a moment where there are more people on UBI than there will be those who pay into it. What happens then?

We print more money? We see how well that has worked out for us.

UBI is a band-aid on an arterial bleed. We do not teach the next generation to be successful. We teach them to whine and complain instead of doing the work to improve their lives and the lives of others. We teach them all about rights but not responsibility for themselves and their future.

I see no alternative solution to poverty and weak social cohesion than shared values, mutual respect for each other and laws, and personal commitment to productivity, prosperity, and entrepreneurship. Just like it has always been.

UBI is a death sentence for civilization.

The Big Red Button Argument for Universal Basic Income (UBI)

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