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~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 2:57 pm
by Bill Wiltrack
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WHAT if America were to scrap all its anti-poverty programmes—welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits, the works—and replace them with an unconditional basic income (UBI) for everybody? Even in a Congress beset by less extraordinary levels of dysfunction, the idea would have little chance of becoming law. It’s fun to theorise, though. And if Switzerland approves a referendum to send all of its citizens $2,800 a month, the debate will have a fascinating new reference point.
* The WORLD Needs This New SOCIAL SECURITY Program. Let's ALL be universal citizens in this new world-wide global economy.
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Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 4:52 pm
by Arising_uk
Alaska already does this. Finland is going to do it. The Swiss voted against it.
I think you ought to stick to exhorting nations to do it as there is no 'world authority' to implement such a policy nor to raise the taxes needed to pay for such a scheme.
p.s
Is that picture meant to represent the poor of America? As they look like they eat pretty well!
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:03 pm
by Hobbes' Choice
It's a really good idea. It saves money on endless means testing, and administration. It protects those between jobs, those incapable of work and those that think benefit culture is bad.
One has to wonder what the break even point would be when the amount of tax a person pays, matches the level of benefit they personally receive.
The devil would be in the detail. Would this be enough to pay rent, and would home owners that did not work also get the same level of payment?
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 5:44 pm
by henry quirk
Except for children (who have no one to care for them); the old (who can longer care for themselves); the disabled (who can't care for themselves)...
Get up offa your big, fat, lazy, ass and take care of yourself.
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:23 am
by Bill Wiltrack
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One of the many reasons that most Americans are grossly overweight is that, for many of us, we don't know where or when our next meal will come.
Plus, for most of us, we have only have limited food choices...most of the choices are not that healthy. We have been drenched in fat & other chemicals that enhance the taste of food but do little for the nutritional value of the food.
What is worse is that Americans are saturated in media, commercials, and misinformation.
Our poor & our poor diets have created a health crisis that has overcome our ability to handle it.
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Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 12:55 pm
by bobevenson
Don't be a piker, Bill, everybody should get a million dollars a year. That way, everybody on Earth would be a millionaire. What's wrong with that?
Re:
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:36 pm
by Hobbes' Choice
henry quirk wrote:Except for children (who have no one to care for them); the old (who can longer care for themselves); the disabled (who can't care for themselves)...
Get up offa your big, fat, lazy, ass and take care of yourself.
The trouble is that it tends to get very expensive deciding who is deserving and who is not. It's also open to abuse.
That's why a universal benefit is a good idea.
You get it whether or not you are working, ill, or old or disabled
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 2:37 pm
by Hobbes' Choice
Bill Wiltrack wrote:.
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One of the many reasons that most Americans are grossly overweight is that, for many of us, we don't know where or when our next meal will come.
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Bullshit.
Fat people are not relevant to this discussion. Why are you pandering to it?
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:09 pm
by henry quirk
Seems pretty simple to me...
Provide the essentials to children who have no one to care for them.
Provide the essentials to old folks who can no longer care for thenselves.
Provide the essentials to the disabled who can't provide for themselves.
Kids who have caregivers, old folks who can care for themselves, the disabled who can care for themselves, get nuthin' cuz they don't need it.
The able-bodied and sound-minded get nuthin' cuz they don't need it.
As for Bill's beloved fat folks: eat less, move more, problem solved.
Re:
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:16 pm
by Hobbes' Choice
henry quirk wrote:Seems pretty simple to me...
Provide the essentials to children who have no one to care for them.
Provide the essentials to old folks who can no longer care for thenselves.
Provide the essentials to the disabled who can't provide for themselves.
Kids who have caregivers, old folks who can care for themselves, the disabled who can care for themselves, get nuthin' cuz they don't need it.
The able-bodied and sound-minded get nuthin' cuz they don't need it.
As for Bill's beloved fat folks: eat less, move more, problem solved.
Duh. Like I said it's expensive to figure that out and avoid corruption, abuse and maintain fairness.
Where the fuck is your imagination. Take a look around you.
And by the way; "The able-bodied and sound-minded get nuthin' cuz they don't need it." without jobs still need food, and money. And without help they are going to have to take it - maybe from you.
Over the last five years the Tory government in the UK have been deciding that some folks are "fit for work", where previously they were held not to be. It has cost lots of money to refuse people benefit, and it just so happens that FOUR THOUSAND people refused benefit have died within six weeks.
Some have committed suicide, but most of the were basically on their death bed.
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:09 pm
by Wyman
Bill Wiltrack wrote:.
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WHAT if America were to scrap all its anti-poverty programmes—welfare, food stamps, unemployment benefits, the works—and replace them with an unconditional basic income (UBI) for everybody? Even in a Congress beset by less extraordinary levels of dysfunction, the idea would have little chance of becoming law. It’s fun to theorise, though. And if Switzerland approves a referendum to send all of its citizens $2,800 a month, the debate will have a fascinating new reference point.
* The WORLD Needs This New SOCIAL SECURITY Program. Let's ALL be universal citizens in this new world-wide global economy.
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Sounds great as long as I'm allowed to leave the country. Seriously though - they can't manage to buy healthy foods, but you're going to
give them cash?
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 6:33 pm
by henry quirk
Hobbes,
Your default position seems to be 'it's easist just to provide for everyone' while mine is 'take the time to identify the truly needy (those I mention above) and then get those folks the basics needed'.
I got no clue how to bridge the gap between us (which seems as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon).
As for those capable folks who might 'take' what they need cuz, for some reason, they just can't (won't) do for themselves: no worries...as long as they have folks like you to look after 'em they'll never (have to) muster up the will to come after folks like me.
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:07 pm
by vegetariantaxidermy
Bill Wiltrack wrote:.
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One of the many reasons that most Americans are grossly overweight is that, for many of us, we don't know where or when our next meal will come.
Plus, for most of us, we have only have limited food choices...most of the choices are not that healthy. We have been drenched in fat & other chemicals that enhance the taste of food but do little for the nutritional value of the food.
What is worse is that Americans are saturated in media, commercials, and misinformation.
Our poor & our poor diets have created a health crisis that has overcome our ability to handle it.
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It's a weird irony that the poor of today are fat rather than thin. Fatty liver disease has become commonplace in American children, and that's because of their shitty diet. A poorly functioning liver will make you fat. It's all about money as usual. The sugar industry. The corn syrup industry. Whichever cnut corporation supplies school lunches...
It's not surprising, in an amoral country that worships money above everything.
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 8:18 pm
by Dalek Prime
Grew up in a family of five kids. Total amount of garbage each week (or two, I forget) was on small bin. Goes to show the quality of the food ie. unprocessed. I was skinny as a whip.
Re: ~ The Case For Universal Basic Income ~
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:27 pm
by Bill Wiltrack
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..................................The World's 85 Richest People Are as Wealthy as the Poorest 3 Billion
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