Why Should We Support the Idea of an Unconditional Basic Income?

https://medium.com/working-life/why-should-we-support-the-idea-of-an-unconditional-basic-income-8a2680c73dd3

by hypertexthero • 12 years ago

4 9 12 years ago

snitko4• 12 years ago

The only question one should ask is where does the money come from. If it comes from thin air, fine. But they come from taxes. Government doesn't have any money, it takes someone else's money and gives them to other people.

If you want my money, convince me to give it to you. Don't think that simply because you can't come over and steal them from me yourself, but instead you send government agents to collect it, it makes it okay.

_cipher_2• 12 years ago

But they come from taxes. Government doesn't have any money, it takes someone else's money and gives them to other people.

Simple solution: raise the tax on the rich to 80% && cut the crap about tax avoidance => problem solved.

snitko4• 12 years ago

That's not a solution. That's still you wanting someone else to pay for what you consider to be a good idea. Make your own money and then give it to people for free, if you wish. But you have no moral right whatsoever to take money from other people yourself or through government.

dllthomas2• 12 years ago

If it comes from thin air, it's a tax on currency denominated assets. Typically a regressive tax - those with more wealth are more able to structure their holdings more carefully, so lose a smaller portion of the value.

snitko4• 12 years ago

I agree. Inflation is a form of taxation and is an immoral thing as well.

anonymous2013• 12 years ago

Look at it from the cost effectiveness point of view. For instance, currently we have a problem with several thousands of children illegally crossing border into the US. To solve this, 4B$ has been requested. This amounts to a million per child, roughly. I could think of alternative proposals: e.g a voucher for 10k$ to the child's family, payable in a year if they demonstrate up-keeping the child: sending it to school, etc.

The 'guaranteed income' is much trickier than that, of course, but the question is still valid: can it compete on cost-effectiveness with the current system of Medicare/medicaid/SS/WIC/.....

Why Should We Support the Idea of an Unconditional Basic Income?

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