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Using Saudi Arabia as an argument against UBI is like using Somalia as an argument against libertarianism -- oil money or lack of government oversight are not t

by blfr 9y ago

Using Saudi Arabia as an argument against UBI is like using Somalia as an argument against libertarianism -- oil money or lack of government oversight are not the problems there.

mabbo 9y ago
They aren't the only problems in both cases, but they are major problems.
pavlov 9y ago
Yes, Saudi Arabia combines a form of UBI with a stifling cultural environment and a medieval approach to national security. Most proponents of UBI expect it to lead to increased cultural creativity and entrepreneurial risk-taking, both of which are actively discouraged in Saudi Arabia.
eighthnate 9y ago
The article is a bit disingenuous because saudi arabia's population increased from 5 million in 1967 to nearly 35 million today. It's a 600% increase compared to the US's 50% increase in the same time frame. It's the same kind of dishonest cherrypicking of data to push your agenda. No different than when people try to compare norway to the US. What applies to a small racially homogenous scandinavian with tons of oil doesn't usually apply to a racially diverse continent sized nation like the US. This is why my opinion on economics and newspapers have declined. Too much biased cherrypicking of data and too much agenda-pushing.
- vixen99 9y ago
  The status quo is that we don't have basic income. On the agenda is the proposal that we do. A critique of a novel proposition is agenda-pushing?
  - eighthnate 9y ago
    > A critique of a novel proposition is agenda-pushing? Yes? Especially when it disingenuous and cherrypicking data. As I said, people with an agenda tend to do this. Whether it is the people on the left trying to compare us to norway or the people on the right trying to compare us to saudi arabia.
    - posterboy 9y ago
      name calling is disenginious, too. Everyone has an agenda. People with a "wrong" agenda tend to use wrong methods to push it. But you imply malignance of a particular flavor without giving concrete evidence for the cause ... or giving due critique (edit: wait, there is critique, just not concerned with the conclusion). Granted, to claim low quality of content, none of that's needed.

by blfr 9y ago

Using Saudi Arabia as an argument against UBI is like using Somalia as an argument against libertarianism -- oil money or lack of government oversight are not the problems there.

mabbo 9y ago

They aren't the only problems in both cases, but they are major problems.

pavlov 9y ago

Yes, Saudi Arabia combines a form of UBI with a stifling cultural environment and a medieval approach to national security. Most proponents of UBI expect it to lead to increased cultural creativity and entrepreneurial risk-taking, both of which are actively discouraged in Saudi Arabia.

eighthnate 9y ago

The article is a bit disingenuous because saudi arabia's population increased from 5 million in 1967 to nearly 35 million today. It's a 600% increase compared to the US's 50% increase in the same time frame. It's the same kind of dishonest cherrypicking of data to push your agenda. No different than when people try to compare norway to the US. What applies to a small racially homogenous scandinavian with tons of oil doesn't usually apply to a racially diverse continent sized nation like the US. This is why my opinion on economics and newspapers have declined. Too much biased cherrypicking of data and too much agenda-pushing.

vixen99 9y ago
The status quo is that we don't have basic income. On the agenda is the proposal that we do. A critique of a novel proposition is agenda-pushing?
- eighthnate 9y ago
  > A critique of a novel proposition is agenda-pushing? Yes? Especially when it disingenuous and cherrypicking data. As I said, people with an agenda tend to do this. Whether it is the people on the left trying to compare us to norway or the people on the right trying to compare us to saudi arabia.
  - posterboy 9y ago
    name calling is disenginious, too. Everyone has an agenda. People with a "wrong" agenda tend to use wrong methods to push it. But you imply malignance of a particular flavor without giving concrete evidence for the cause ... or giving due critique (edit: wait, there is critique, just not concerned with the conclusion). Granted, to claim low quality of content, none of that's needed.