4 ms·

UBI, is one of those things I just cannot logically compute. I am completely in support of the end goals of UBI. Just cannot fathom how UBI can even theoretical

by apalmer 10y ago

UBI, is one of those things I just cannot logically compute. I am completely in support of the end goals of UBI. Just cannot fathom how UBI can even theoretically works. It seems to ignore Economics, Game Theory, and Human Nature. I just dont understand how it could rationally be viewed as a workable solution.

rjprins 10y ago
Imagine you are part of tribe, would you share food, care, and help in general with your fellow tribesmen and women? Now imagine the tribe is really big and named the USA. Human nature is both social and competitive. UBI is a social gesture, it doesn't take away or prevent competitiveness.
sutterbomb 10y ago
Can you share details on what specifically isn't computing?
- runin2k1 10y ago
  I'm no "apalmer", but have a similar perspective... From a simple supply and demand standpoint, how does the extra income introduced not simply cause the cost of basic* goods to rise accordingly such that you end up with your UBI increasingly falling behind what is needed to support a minimum standard of living? * Added "basic" for clarity, I don't imagine this would affect the cost of luxury, or recreational goods to a large extent, but an extra $1000+/month per person would, I expect, have a drastic effect on housing rental rates amidst the lower to middle class residential areas
  - thaumasiotes 10y ago
    In a closed system, it would. But if a US citizen can move to a location where not everyone gets the US basic income, then their basic income will be worth something.
    - runin2k1 10y ago
      Like Baja! I'm in!
thaumasiotes 10y ago
It works by not applying to everyone. If it were actually universal, it would send the value of the UBI to 0, since it's the amount you get by not doing anything. But restricted to, say, US citizens, it's a tax on US citizens who have economic worth to let those who don't buy things from outside the US.

by apalmer 10y ago

rjprins 10y ago

Imagine you are part of tribe, would you share food, care, and help in general with your fellow tribesmen and women? Now imagine the tribe is really big and named the USA. Human nature is both social and competitive. UBI is a social gesture, it doesn't take away or prevent competitiveness.

sutterbomb 10y ago

Can you share details on what specifically isn't computing?

runin2k1 10y ago
I'm no "apalmer", but have a similar perspective... From a simple supply and demand standpoint, how does the extra income introduced not simply cause the cost of basic* goods to rise accordingly such that you end up with your UBI increasingly falling behind what is needed to support a minimum standard of living? * Added "basic" for clarity, I don't imagine this would affect the cost of luxury, or recreational goods to a large extent, but an extra $1000+/month per person would, I expect, have a drastic effect on housing rental rates amidst the lower to middle class residential areas
- thaumasiotes 10y ago
  In a closed system, it would. But if a US citizen can move to a location where not everyone gets the US basic income, then their basic income will be worth something.
  - runin2k1 10y ago
    Like Baja! I'm in!

thaumasiotes 10y ago

It works by not applying to everyone. If it were actually universal, it would send the value of the UBI to 0, since it's the amount you get by not doing anything. But restricted to, say, US citizens, it's a tax on US citizens who have economic worth to let those who don't buy things from outside the US.