What are your thoughts and opinions on Universal basic income?(UNI)

[shesellsseashells99]

I dont know much about this, but was talking about it with a friend this morning and how on favour they were of it.

I'm just interested to hear your thoughts. For and against and how it would actually work.

Which countries have tried this already?

@CeaseAndDesist, the naysayers that always assume the worst in people are the same people who assume that if drugs were to be legalised, we would ALL become raging heroin addicts - because the only thing standing in the way that so far is because it is illegal . No amount of studies and evidence of countries that already do this successfully will not convince them.

Look at the large scale study in Kenya to see how UBI empowers women.

@HelloToMyKitty
My comment was more into reply about your comment about there being no other welfare benefits. (downside to quoting the whole post). So either everyone gets ubi at a high enough rate to live not exist, or people who can't work are fucked because it only covers the very basics.

I'm not sure how it would work with the NHS. It's an interesting consideration!

My comment was more into reply about your comment about there being no other welfare benefits. (downside to quoting the whole post). So either everyone gets ubi at a high enough rate to live not exist, or people who can't work are fucked because it only covers the very basics

I wouldn’t be in favor of a system that is basically a subsistence income. So my ideal is that this replaces benefits (a lot gets wasted on admin and such) but if you can work, you don’t get penalized for it. The UBI is always there for you whether or not you engage in paid work.

I guess though that those on disability and such would not have any extra income under this system.

Maybe you might consider it unfair but what I think is attractive about the system is every citizen gets the same amount no matter what. No lobbying for this group to get X and that group gets Y and then Z complains they pay for it all and get nothing at all .... etc etc.

Ah we agree then . If its not a subsistence rate, then there is no need for 'extra' benefits. I'd support that!
No idea how it would be funded, higher tax I guess.

@Jaxhog

It's one of those ideas that looks great in theory but wouldn't work in practice. This is why.

1 - Everyone would get it, even many, many people who really don't need it.

1. If you means-tested it, imagine the fun with that! Think UC.
2. People would argue for exceptions e.g. living somewhere expensive (London) or having more than 2 kids etc. etc etc. Think Coronavirus.
3. It would either be a LOT less than 25k each and/or prohibitively expensive. Think pensions.
4. Taxes would have to go up to pay for it
5. Implementation would be a nightmare as it wouldn't cover people's current financial commitments. Think extra transition costs.
6. Employers would reduce wages significantly and few people would want to do the still necessary low paid manual jobs
7. It would be much harder to keep many people in jobs, as 'why would they bother' when they get paid anyway

I’m not sure you fully understand UBI.