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?!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

But this is coming. Because the robots are coming. Whether you like it or not.

Well until the ro ots come he is just a lazy bum

If you mean test a universal income, it's not a unkversal income. It's low income benefit...

Large income disparities are very obviously not a good thing for society. We are living with much higher income disparities nowadays than we did in the past. It's also clear that a lot of jobs are undervalued and underpaid - carework etc. UBI alone won't change that.

I do think some form of UBI might be inevitable down the line, but your boyf will probably be retired by then...

Global capitalism basically does require 'modern' slavery but somehow I don't think your partner is looking at this from a marxist perspective.

I think it will be in the next 20 years... automaton moves fast. Amazon have just opened their first non staffed store in U.K....
Insurance
Checkout
Production line
Medical operations
Law
Taxis/buses/trains

Lots more. I think the Labour Party raised it as an idea a few years ago. It’s been trialled in other parts of the world

Please tell me you're using reliable contraception? 😬

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

Actually you're probably right, it'll probably happen sooner than we think.

People seem very resistant to the idea of working less though - there's always weird outrage when the possibility of a four day week (with the same pay) is discussed for example.

He sounds thick and lazy to me. Pro Trump and anti mask too? Not much of a catch.

I think it would be a much happier society if people were paid like that. Again it was trialled in some company. Employee productivity and well being rose above the 5 day threshold. People took fewer absences cumulatively and were much happier.

It’s the workaholics that freak at the thought of it.

Oh come on OP!

If this is for real which I'm struggling with what prospects have you with this childish prick?
What are you going to do if you have kids? Manage on your maternity pay alone while he does fuck all?! And don't even get me started on what an absent loser dad/exh he'll be when you finally come to your senses and fuck him off.
You'll be on here with the rest of them, whining that he either makes your life hell or gives you no money.
Well... this here is your warning wake up call 🚨

@HermitsLife

Please tell me you're using reliable contraception? 😬

Like 5 different ones😂 Maybe his sperm is smarter and has bigger ambitions than him😂

A friend wrote a little book on the subject and for a right winger his numbers make quite a bit of sense (free to read with Kindle unlimited)
www.amazon.co.uk/How-do-Welfare-Chris-Worth/dp/1912795299/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+do+welfare&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1615144780&sr=8-1

I bet he says all the forriners are coming over and stealing jobs and that’s why he can’t find work

@Soubriquet

I bet he says all the forriners are coming over and stealing jobs and that’s why he can’t find work

And take all the benefits too! Don't forget that part🙈 We just rob everything

A universal basic income is actually a lot cheaper then running the benefits system . There aren't enough jobs for everyone so why not let those that want to work earn more on top and those that don't don't. It would also mean that you'd have an income if sick.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

I think it would be a much happier society if people were paid like that. Again it was trialled in some company. Employee productivity and well being rose above the 5 day threshold. People took fewer absences cumulatively and were much happier.

It’s the workaholics that freak at the thought of it.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow

How does UBI work in a company? All employees receive a basic salary, but can volunteer for additional duties for extra pay?

I don't think 'universal basic income' means what he thinks it means, and it's not happening any time soon!

Anyway, surely if he's not one of the 'sheeple' he shouldn't be awaiting evil commie universal pay, he should be resisting rather than accepting their lazy socialist free money?!

@saffire

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

This didn’t happen even in Communist states.

@TYEPlay I think you're spot on with your last statement. I think he does want to check out of society, he's really keen on getting away from it all somehow, and I do think he might be depressed. Thank you, your post made a lot of sense.

There's a lot to read through here, thank you everyone for your responses, I think it's an interesting discussion, and it's good to see other points of view on this subject.

Those of you who have asked about contraception, we won't be having children together. He does already have children and he's a great dad to them.

He was a weed smoker for years before he met me, he's given it up now.

So predictable. I bet he thinks he is a rebel too, calling other people sheeple, rather than massively conforming to type.

He does already have children and he's a great dad to them.
How? How is he currently able to house, feed and clothe them if he isnt working?

I was going to say tell him to move to China where communism already exists but see you don’t live together, so I say dump him now and get someone who isn’t idle and who will work to earn a living.

He’s a cocklodger in the making. That goodness you don’t have kids. Can you imagine relying on him to support you while on maternity leave and then needing him to either work or look after the kids?

[quote Instamaticgreenery]@TYEPlay I think you're spot on with your last statement. I think he does want to check out of society, he's really keen on getting away from it all somehow, and I do think he might be depressed. Thank you, your post made a lot of sense.

There's a lot to read through here, thank you everyone for your responses, I think it's an interesting discussion, and it's good to see other points of view on this subject.

Those of you who have asked about contraception, we won't be having children together. He does already have children and he's a great dad to them. [/quote]
Cross-post. So he has kids. Part of being a great Dad is financially supporting your offspring. Does he do that?

This has got to be a wind up

I don't think he knows himself what he is talking about. UBI is not everyone earning the same regardless of their job. I had an ex like him... he refused to work, said he was happy with a simple life (basically doing fuck all but smoke weed and play computer games). He told me I was an absolute idiot for working, but was happy to reap the benefits of me working.

Nice guy or not op, this one isn't a keeper