3 ms·

Because then you have two types of citizens: those that are considered "parasites" because live entirely off the Basic Income, and those that not get it anymore

by Pamar 9y ago

Because then you have two types of citizens: those that are considered "parasites" because live entirely off the Basic Income, and those that not get it anymore. (The fundamental idea behind B.I. is that anyone should get it, the poorest guy in the neighborhood should get exactly as much as Bill Gates - there is some debate about convicts and/or minors, even if in the latter case most seem to agree that the money goes to the parents/caregivers).

JustSomeNobody 9y ago
Why would Bill Gates need it? Ask him and he'd probably say, "keep it."
- mason240 9y ago
  Why create a bureaucracy to monitor the incomes of of 330 million, and then force them to prove they are poor enough for a check just to exclude Bill Gates? Gates is paying at least 8 figures in Federal taxes a year, just send him a check like everyone else. How many people are you going to hire, and how much of everyone's time are you going to waste just to stop Gates from getting a UBI payment out of spite?
- Pamar 9y ago
  That's the point: he gets it even if he does not need it and if it is a negligible amount of his own personal income/fortune. Universal means just that: everyone gets it. No matter if they need it or not. Maybe you could read up something about the Alaska Fund Dividend to get an idea of how this is supposed to work in practice (the AFD is of course limited to Alaska, and way lower than the suggested 12000 USD target, but still gives an idea of how it is regulated and paid out in practice).
  - gremlinsinc 9y ago
    Agreed, the benefit also being == bureaucracy = jobs = costs. AI printing/cutting/mailing checks to everyone in America every month like clock work, or direct depositing can be totally automated and not cost much at all and lower the cost to administer -- w/ GBI you'll be able to close every welfare building, layoff all welfare/gov't program staff for the poor, and save a lot of money that way.
gremlinsinc 9y ago
I agree, I think we should go to a flat tax something like 18%. No deductions, loopholes, credits. Flat 18% across the board or w/e is deemed needed to sustain things.. GBI is employed to give everyone a quality of life, but even the poorest citizen who--is getting free money, can then afford to be taxed the flat rate. Say you have 45k average income per person. and 250 million adults. That is (45,000 * 250,000,000) * .18 = 2,025,000,000,000 or 2 Trillion.. This doesn't factor in any Corporate / Estate / Wallstreet Speculation Taxes either. -- Which corporations should pay something similar to the 18% flat tax as well. Do that and you can almost see this thing paid for. We could also add a 4% sales tax or vat -- which will make it so anyone who's in the country on visa/illegal still pays taxes while here. This is all speculation as I don't know the exact average incomes, and # of adults, or if children will be given stipends, or what the perfect % flat tax is for everyone - but it's just an idea.

by Pamar 9y ago

JustSomeNobody 9y ago

Why would Bill Gates need it? Ask him and he'd probably say, "keep it."

mason240 9y ago
Why create a bureaucracy to monitor the incomes of of 330 million, and then force them to prove they are poor enough for a check just to exclude Bill Gates? Gates is paying at least 8 figures in Federal taxes a year, just send him a check like everyone else. How many people are you going to hire, and how much of everyone's time are you going to waste just to stop Gates from getting a UBI payment out of spite?
Pamar 9y ago
That's the point: he gets it even if he does not need it and if it is a negligible amount of his own personal income/fortune. Universal means just that: everyone gets it. No matter if they need it or not. Maybe you could read up something about the Alaska Fund Dividend to get an idea of how this is supposed to work in practice (the AFD is of course limited to Alaska, and way lower than the suggested 12000 USD target, but still gives an idea of how it is regulated and paid out in practice).
- gremlinsinc 9y ago
  Agreed, the benefit also being == bureaucracy = jobs = costs. AI printing/cutting/mailing checks to everyone in America every month like clock work, or direct depositing can be totally automated and not cost much at all and lower the cost to administer -- w/ GBI you'll be able to close every welfare building, layoff all welfare/gov't program staff for the poor, and save a lot of money that way.

gremlinsinc 9y ago

I agree, I think we should go to a flat tax something like 18%. No deductions, loopholes, credits. Flat 18% across the board or w/e is deemed needed to sustain things.. GBI is employed to give everyone a quality of life, but even the poorest citizen who--is getting free money, can then afford to be taxed the flat rate. Say you have 45k average income per person. and 250 million adults. That is (45,000 * 250,000,000) * .18 = 2,025,000,000,000 or 2 Trillion.. This doesn't factor in any Corporate / Estate / Wallstreet Speculation Taxes either. -- Which corporations should pay something similar to the 18% flat tax as well. Do that and you can almost see this thing paid for. We could also add a 4% sales tax or vat -- which will make it so anyone who's in the country on visa/illegal still pays taxes while here. This is all speculation as I don't know the exact average incomes, and # of adults, or if children will be given stipends, or what the perfect % flat tax is for everyone - but it's just an idea.