Universal Basic Income thread

[NineBerry]

universal basic income but combined with universal basic work requirements. I don't think requiring all non retirees to work 20 hours a week is unreasonable.

Hunting down racists and beating them up would be a good occupation for able-bodied young men.

[laklak]

If the UK yobs are anything to go by they'd team up with the racists and do a bit of Paki bashing.

[Rum]

People as a rule don't seem to like to be idle. And yet we keep being told the machines are going to run everything shortly in which case enforced idleness will be the norm. I'm not sure of the economics, but if machines could keep our GDP up, then if you don't want the place to fall apart you are going to have to give people money to survive on. Mass unemployment and poverty in the Middle East is a good part of their problem in my view.

[pErvinalia]

Yep. Machines don't spend money.

[laklak]

Enable the Kardashian app, Smithers, the GDP needs a kick in the arse..

[Forty Two]

universal basic income but combined with universal basic work requirements. I don't think requiring all non retirees to work 20 hours a week is unreasonable.

Hunting down racists and beating them up would be a good occupation for able-bodied young men.

Ah, yes, violence as a response to differences of opinion is always the answer in a free, open and democratic society.

[Forty Two]

People as a rule don't seem to like to be idle. And yet we keep being told the machines are going to run everything shortly in which case enforced idleness will be the norm. I'm not sure of the economics, but if machines could keep our GDP up, then if you don't want the place to fall apart you are going to have to give people money to survive on. Mass unemployment and poverty in the Middle East is a good part of their problem in my view.

[Brian Peacock]

That's a classic.

[JimC]

There would be a strong incentive to abuse it for some. If you are in work that fits the cash economy, then you could collect your state stipend, and get a lot of extra cash by working 2 or 3 days a week.

Or perhaps the model rEv has in mind accepts that possibility with a shrug...

[pErvinalia]

That's no different to a cash economy now.

And it's universal. That means you get it whether you are out of work or in work.

[Tyrannical]

Sitting around all day drinking gin, smoking pot, and playing videogames does have a certain appeal to it......

[JimC]

OK, so there is less buggerising around establishing who should get what benefit if it's automatic - that is an efficiency.

Such an efficiency will allow the government to sack lots of public servants, saving their wages, thus paying for it!

But then the sacked public servants won't be paying any tax!

My head hurts. Time for a G & T...

[JimC]

Sitting around all day drinking gin, smoking pot, and playing videogames does have a certain appeal to it......

One out of 3 ain't too bad...

[pErvinalia]

OK, so there is less buggerising around establishing who should get what benefit if it's automatic - that is an efficiency.

Such an efficiency will allow the government to sack lots of public servants, saving their wages, thus paying for it!

But then the sacked public servants won't be paying any tax!

My head hurts. Time for a G & T...

yeah, working out the cost/benefit would be a fairly monumental task. You've got direct costs and savings, but you've also got indirect ones (and intangible ones) like reduced health care costs due to less stress and likely more exercise, greater productivity per person-hour due to happier workers and less sick leave, better educated population (although, more expense to pay for that education), etc etc.

[Tyrannical]

eah, working out the cost/benefit would be a fairly monumental task. You've got direct costs and savings, but you've also got indirect ones (and intangible ones) like reduced health care costs due to less stress and likely more exercise, greater productivity per person-hour due to happier workers and less sick leave, better educated population (although, more expense to pay for that education), etc etc.

Increased health care costs because they just sit around and drink all day.
Less educated population because why bother with school when you can just drink
Less productivity per person-hour because of a resentful workforce