Universal Basic Income means there is no point working hard

[Instamaticgreenery]

A conversation with my boyfriend this morning.

He's currently unemployed. He seems slightly reluctant to look for work and this was one of the reasons he gave. He said he'll earn the same as everyone else anyway when this comes in, and that everyone will earn the same, be it a doctor or a shop assistant, and we're living in modern slavery. Or we will be soon, as that's the way the world is going.

Could anyone enlighten me as to what he is talking about?!

Your boyfriend obviously has no understanding of the concept and no idea when he thinks this is 'coming in"
Why don't you ask him to explain it to you if you fancy a laugh.

It’s not a flat rate income where all people earn the same whatever they do, more a guarantee of minimum income. People who work, doctors or otherwise, will still have a higher income than people who don’t.

Don't think it will be coming in any time soon especially after Covid so he needs to get his act together

Also I’m not sure why he thinks this is coming.

😂😂😂😂

Your boyfriend is an idiot and a lazy one at that.

Please tell me you aren't subsidising him.

An unemployed boyfriend who whines about the 'conspiracy' of bad, evil "binmen earn the same as brain surgeons" faux-Communism that's coming his way. Sounds like a real catch.

Good God, are there really people who think UBI is a magic salary that everyone gets, replacing the salary of a job? Jesus Christ.

He doesn't sound the brightest.

Does he do a lot of weed?

He sounds like a conspiracy theorist.

OK he hasn't got the faintest idea what I means so I strongly suggest you either show him some actual information on it, including the fact that no-one has said it actually is coming, never mind when, or just laugh in his face and tell him to get off his lazy arse.

I am certain that you could do better than this loser

UBI isn't coming anytime soon. It is a small sum everyone would be paid regardless of other sources of income (i.e. not means tested). It's also far from being the leftwing, utopian idea that many people seem to think it is. There are plenty of rightwing/centerist supporters of the idea - you pay out a basic sum to everyone and you scrap the benefits system. It's will also most likely prove to be an excuse to disinvest in in public goods and services.

universal basic income was mooted to be around £100 a week max without any need to sign on or look for work, however there is nothing to stop anyone carrying on working if they want more than £400 a month
it could work say in a family where one parent works normally but the SAHP would get £400 a week regardless so it might enable them to take more than just minimum maternity for a bit longer or work very part time until child is 3, or someone age 64 to retire and live off savings with a wee top up until got to state/ work pension age

Are you funding his life?

he doesn't understand the thing he's crying about bless him - suggest he gets off his lazy arse and educates himself

He sounds very stupid and like he’s been reading too much conspiracy bullshit

I’m sure you can do better

citizensincome.org/

Just found this site which might give a more balanced view of the idea.

The benefits of a similar scheme are outlined following an actual experiment done in Canada in the 70s.

www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20200624-canadas-forgotten-universal-basic-income-experiment

Part of the idea recognises that it costs more to deal with the effects of poverty overall than it does to prevent people reaching that point, so it should prevent such idiocy as refusing to pay someone's rent, them getting evicted and the council having to pay twice as much to private temporary accommodation providers, as often happens in this country.

It's not about people not working, it's about making sure that their income in total allows them to progress, not fall into spirals of debt trying to keep up with the market.

In the future I think that something like this may well have to be applied, especially as job automation may outstrip people's ability to retrain and take up fewer jobs on offer. Otherwise we may end up with hordes of people homeless etc with nothing left to lose. Just my thoughts.

Eh? What have I missed?! Never even heard of it ...

I bet he’s on about “the great reset”.

Everyone earning the same? Are we going to turn communist then?

Well, from his perspective there is no point in him working, is there?

Because even without UBI (which he badly misunderstands) he does not need to work because someone else (you???) is funding his current lifestyle.

Do you live together?
Does he pull his weight in housework etc? Or is there "no point in that" either because someone else (you???) will do it all.

What a catch!

Thank you for the replies and for making me laugh!

Yes he's a conspiracy theorist, and yes he's talking about the 'great reset'. He's pro trump and anti mask.

He treats me well though and I usually just switch off at his rants. I was a bit lost at this comment today though and his reluctance to look for work does concern me if we're going to have a future together.

I'm not funding him and we don't live together.

Could anyone enlighten me as to what he is talking about?!

He's talking absolute codswallop. Where on earth did he get this ridiculous idea from?

Oh yeah, and tell him he's a lazy workshy git who needs to get his arse in gear and go and get a job.

Bin him OP he’s already making excuses to cocklodge 🗑