Universal Basic Income thread

[Hermit]

How can so many of you support the libertarian notion of a minimum basic income for all. After all Friedrich Hayek advocated it in the Road to Serfdom, and it originated, basically, with Milton Friedman and the evil Chicago School of Economics. This kind of classical liberal economic theory was proven wrong a long time ago by the Keynesians, wasn't it?

I can well imagine Keynes having criticised the classical liberal economic theory, but you'll need to quote the bit where he opposed the concept of a universal basic income. Come to think of it, you'll need to to quote where Hayek proposes it. The closest I get to latter is him mentioning "security of a minimum income" and that "there can be no doubt that some minimum of food, shelter, and clothing, sufficient to preserve health and the capacity to work, can be assured to everybody". Yes, well, that is the dole, isn't it? Lost your job for some reason? Can't find paid work for some reason? No problem. Get government funded material support, which normally includes medical care as well. If there is mention of universal basic income that goes beyond the dole in Hayeks writings, please provide a link.

[NineBerry]

Whether a basic income is more left-wing or more economically liberal is based on the height of the basic income and on whether worker protection is still maintained in parallel.

[cronus]

.......even if it is only posting leaflets there should be something everyone can do to merit a limited basic income without breaking the code of the Christian work ethic. It's not rocket science to set up a basic and unexploitive way of distributing a limitless supply of digital bottletops?

[Brian Peacock]

I'd sell my house and all it's contents for a volunteer position.

[Svartalf]

I'd sell my house and all it's contents for a volunteer position.

depends what position and what benefits it brings...

[pErvinalia]

I'd sell my house and all it's contents for a volunteer position.

I don't understand what you are saying on this comment.

[laklak]

Bloody youth of today!

Fuckin' A! Why, in my day we were lucky to score a bag of Mexican dirtweed, and these little shits sneer at hydro Bubbilicious. Fucking wankers, the lot.

[Brian Peacock]

I'd sell my house and all it's contents for a volunteer position.

I don't understand what you are saying on this comment.

Don't worry your pretty little head about it dear.

[pErvinalia]

I'd just volunteer if I wanted to volunteer. I'd keep my house, as I'd need somewhere to live.

[Forty Two]

.......even if it is only posting leaflets there should be something everyone can do to merit a limited basic income without breaking the code of the Christian work ethic. It's not rocket science to set up a basic and unexploitive way of distributing a limitless supply of digital bottletops?

I think the idea is not to give people busy work, but to give people a minimum such that their "basic needs" are met (food, clothing, shelter, medical), but there remains the incentive to succeed and advance to do more than just subsist. If you mandate that people do busy work, then it eliminates their ability to do something worthwhile, because they have little time in which to do it.

I wonder if it would be better if everyone should get the minimum basic income, and not lose it just because you start earning money. If you lose it when you earn, then the incentive to do unpleasant work goes away because you have a pleasant-er alternative to make much of that money. Either that, or a graduated minimum basic income which scales down, like, 50 cents on the dollar as your earned income goes up. That way people aren't faced with deciding to stay home or go to work to make the same dollar.

[cronus]

The question is should unpleasant work be paid more or paid less? and the same for enjoyable work? why should a pub landlord be paid more than the pub toilet cleaner when the advantage to his office in terms of perks are so much greater?

[NineBerry]

I wonder if it would be better if everyone should get the minimum basic income, and not lose it just because you start earning money.

That is part of the definition. You get it always, independent of what you earn additionally.

[laklak]

I think it's a great idea, I can always use a few extra bucks. Would simplify the shit out of all sorts of things. Fire all those bureaucrats and social welfare workers and pay them the guaranteed minimum. If that isn't enough they could do some actual productive work.

[Svartalf]

You don't get it do you? Social services would have to expand to distribute the minimum income to the whole population, and there's always need for bureaucrats and civil servants... and you need to pay them above the social minimum because you want quality work.

[rainbow]

You don't get it do you? Social services would have to expand to distribute the minimum income to the whole population, and there's always need for bureaucrats and civil servants... and you need to pay them above the social minimum because you want quality work.

It requires no bureaucracy. The same amount is credited to everyone's bank account. This is done by computers.