Well, this particular proposal is very socialistic, in that it's saying "I want these people to receive this benefit, and I want those people over there to pay

Well, this particular proposal is very socialistic, in that it's saying "I want these people to receive this benefit, and I want those people over there to pay for it." But that's any system of taxation, really. The difference is he's talking about confiscating revenue from a private company in particular (and outside the normal channels) The author uses the Alaskan oil field payout as an example of a BI system - which it is. But a quick trip to a supermarket in Anchorage will show that even a $2000 payment doesn't go very far with their high cost of living. Doing some envelope math will show that UBI can't be funded in the US at a meaningful level. Not to mention the potential resistance to stopping all current benefit payments in favor of UBI payments (no more Social Security, disability, WIC program, etc. -- the AARP will scream like banshees)