We already have a basic income, at least in Europe, not sure about the USA. Unemployed people get welfare. Changing this system to what BI advocates propose is

We already have a basic income, at least in Europe, not sure about the USA. Unemployed people get welfare. Changing this system to what BI advocates propose is not a huge change: - Simplification of the welfare system, you get money automatically, no need to ask. - In the current system, if you get employed, you lose benefits, so the jump in your income is small, a disincentive to work. In the BI proposals, income vs income-plus-welfare curve is smooth. That's the main improvement I think. - More money gets redistributed from the wealthy to the poor. Personally I think the current level of redistribution is fine.