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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

universal basic income

83 replies

elmouno · 07/09/2020 04:21

Will it happen?

Universal basic income. I know it's been introduced in some other places. Would you support it? Just some free money given to everyone despite their means?

Please don't get me wrong, this would not replace anything. It would be in addition to what you already have.

YANBU: I could take an extra £1000 per month to save the economy from 2020 and impending robot job annihilation.
YABU: We could never pay for that and there are far too many haters who will never let it happen.

OP posts:
steff13 · 07/09/2020 04:49

Where does it come from?

Original poster
elmouno · 07/09/2020 04:57

Taxes on corporations who will be profiting hand over fist with automation. How else will they sell things otherwise?

OP posts:
Cheesess · 07/09/2020 05:45

Well the price of everything will just rise to compensate

Racoonworld · 07/09/2020 05:54

It wouldn’t be in addition to everyone’s current income though would it? It would replace the benefit system so everyone in effect gets benefit money, with the option to work to get money on top. So I would get a lovely extra £800 a month or whatever it is, and for some others that’s all they would get, so effectively the same system as it is now but I would have more money.

Leafyhouse · 07/09/2020 05:55

I think what they're proposing is to set the Income Tax allowance to zero, and fund it that way.

InsanityRocks · 07/09/2020 05:56

People are scared of it because it seems too good to be true but it will happen eventually, it has to with AI, so if we had a progressive and innovative government we could be at the forefront with this. Just think of all the wonderful things that could be achieved without worrying about money.

Bobleywobley · 07/09/2020 07:01

Its essential if people are to self isolate but will never happen under a tory govt.

JamieLeeCurtains · 07/09/2020 07:06

Thats a very misleading OP and your 'poll' premise is frankly silly.

Elwynne · 07/09/2020 07:11

Imagine what we could achieve if we were free to follow our interests rather than have to settle for jobs that pay the bills? It would take a generation to get used to the concept but I'm sure art, science and crafts would take huge leaps forward.

Pbbananabagel · 07/09/2020 07:33

It would change everything for my family and I, it would mean a better life for my children, we could focus on growing our small business in the best way without working ourselves into the ground or worrying how we will ever get another mortgage if we wanted to move.

MinnieMousse · 07/09/2020 07:38

Report into the findings of a two year study of a universal income pilot scheme in Finland. Benefits to recipients' mental well-being and finances and a modest improvement in employment levels.

NinewhileFive · 07/09/2020 07:46

Really, it needs to happen now. But, the Tories.

trebletheclef · 07/09/2020 07:52

I think it would allow for a lot more creativity and personal possibility. People might be able to afford to re-train. Perhaps you want to learn to be an artisan carpenter, but are stuck in a 9-5 admin job, with small kids to entertain evening and weekends. Or you would like to train to be a nurse, but also stuck in a tedious job to pay the bills.

However, I also think that there will inevitably be some people who need more of the universal basic income than others, for whatever reason, and so on top of it, there will still have to be a needs-assessed benefit top up. Which invalidates it.

Bonkersblond · 07/09/2020 07:57

Instead of retirement age going up, they should start to bring it back down to free up any jobs for the younger generation.

CherryPavlova · 07/09/2020 08:02

I do think that benefits should be paid at a rate that allows a reasonable standard of living but should probably be slightly less accessible long term. Money should be put into helping people gain qualifications and find work. Long term unemployment is in nobodies interest.

I also think employers should be required to pay a living wage. If you can’t afford to pay your staff, it’s not a business. Global companies paying poorly and expecting the taxpayers to top up payments is not acceptable. Costa has circa £60 million profit but pays staff between £6- 8. I’m not sure we should be lining the pockets of the rich through our benefits system.

It would help if children under 18 had free transport, those in receipt of benefits had free utilities and we invested in good, affordable, local authority rental housing developed on brownfield sites.

minnieok · 07/09/2020 08:05

Is there a magic money tree I don't know about? If everyone who could work did, nobody defrauded the tax authorities and everyone was really responsible not having lots of kids etc then we could have that kind of payment but in reality we are already paying a massive benefit bill and those with more money are trying to wriggle out of paying taxes

sst1234 · 07/09/2020 08:06

And how would you close the gap in income caused inflation? More benefits? Increase in universal basic income? I’m sure there’s plenty more hair brained ideas where that one came from?
By the way automation has been happening since the dawn of time, it’s nothing new.

brakethree · 07/09/2020 08:11

Oooh yes please, I havent worked in ages, would love to be paid to potter about in my garden, have my hair and nails done!

Pringlemonster · 07/09/2020 08:35

It sounds amazing
No benefit Fraud ,because you get it automatically, everyone the same .
No idea how it would actually work in practice Thou

monkeymonkey2010 · 07/09/2020 08:46

i think it's a good idea - but only if people agree to work - say 10 hours a week minimum - in order to receive it.

Otherwise who the fuck is going to do the jobs to keep the country/society running?
Imagine if utility workers, medical staff, bank staff etc decided "i got free money so i dont need to work"........we'd all be up shit creek then wouldn't we?

MadameButterface · 07/09/2020 08:46

Wherever it has been trialled it has led to more people starting businesses, studying for qualifications to get higher paid work (meaning paying more tax longterm) and taking on more caring responsibilities for young children and elderly relatives, which are all things that need to happen atm. I don’t know why it cannot be sold effectively to rightwingers, the principle of ‘everyone has this, and if you want more you need to go out and work for it’ could not be more libertarian. Yes there will be people who decide to do nothing for the rest of their lives but plenty manage that on the current system, which is massively unfit for purpose. No one should need foodbanks in one of the richest countries in the world.

Camp3r20Van · 07/09/2020 08:52

There is no retirement age, you can work as long as you like ( depending on your employer)
There is an age that your state pension is paid

SchrodingersImmigrant · 07/09/2020 08:54

The thing is that if trials were success, why didn't the countries roll it out...

People here would flip the second they would realise it requires to pay more taxes to fund it. I would rather up taxes, but ringfenced it for NHS so it can finally function properly and offer what others have...

WhyIsItSoHardToPickAUsername · 07/09/2020 08:55

It would never be in addition to anything at all. It would replace the current benefits system (except perhaps disability payments) and I assume would also replace your non taxable allowance.

LimaFoxtrotCharlie · 07/09/2020 08:59

How much do you propose? How long do you need to live in the country to qualify? How much extra per child?

Nobody ever quantifies how much UBI should be, and nobody ever explains how it would be paid for.

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