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I tend to shy away from UBI in favor of something like a guaranteed federal jobs program. My fear is that UBI will tempt policy makers to cut social programs.

by 49531 8y ago

I tend to shy away from UBI in favor of something like a guaranteed federal jobs program. My fear is that UBI will tempt policy makers to cut social programs. "We gave you money, buy your own medical insurance". With guaranteed jobs we can put more work into our infrastructure while eliminating unemployment, which helps keep fair labor practices in the forefront of employer's minds.

VikingCoder 8y ago
Many social programs should get cut if we get UBI. I also think many more programs should be socialized. Notably college and healthcare. I'm not sure if I have reasonable arguments for which things should and should not be socialized. Guaranteed jobs force people to work. That forces people to have latch-key kids, or daycare. Family bonding is ridiculously important. Early childhood development is the most important thing in your life, basically. UBI encourages family bonding. Also, if we get UBI, I think we have to get rid of protections for Unions (union-only shops), tenure, and minimum wage. Make the labor market much, much more of a Free Market. People will ACTUALLY QUIT shitty jobs. Which is good for everyone. Wages will have to go up if the job is shitty, or the job will need to be reworked to be less shitty.
- jrs95 8y ago
  I'm not so sure about college. It seems some of it is economically valuable and a wise investment, and some of it is just a waste of time and money that the state shouldn't be subsidizing directly. If the output of an education isn't contributing significant value back to society, then it shouldn't be taxpayer funded.
jrs95 8y ago
The idea of UBI originated specifically to cut social programs and their associated administrative overhead. The idea being that it's more efficient to just write everyone a check that will cover necessities than it is to have various departments providing different parts of what people need on a means-tested basis. The problem with that is if the UBI doesn't actually pay out enough for someone to be able to afford everything they need. Healthcare seems like the biggest variable here though, and if we had a sufficient UBI + universal health coverage, I don't think there would be many, if any, remaining social programs that couldn't be eliminated.

by 49531 8y ago

VikingCoder 8y ago

Many social programs should get cut if we get UBI. I also think many more programs should be socialized. Notably college and healthcare. I'm not sure if I have reasonable arguments for which things should and should not be socialized. Guaranteed jobs force people to work. That forces people to have latch-key kids, or daycare. Family bonding is ridiculously important. Early childhood development is the most important thing in your life, basically. UBI encourages family bonding. Also, if we get UBI, I think we have to get rid of protections for Unions (union-only shops), tenure, and minimum wage. Make the labor market much, much more of a Free Market. People will ACTUALLY QUIT shitty jobs. Which is good for everyone. Wages will have to go up if the job is shitty, or the job will need to be reworked to be less shitty.

jrs95 8y ago
I'm not so sure about college. It seems some of it is economically valuable and a wise investment, and some of it is just a waste of time and money that the state shouldn't be subsidizing directly. If the output of an education isn't contributing significant value back to society, then it shouldn't be taxpayer funded.

jrs95 8y ago

The idea of UBI originated specifically to cut social programs and their associated administrative overhead. The idea being that it's more efficient to just write everyone a check that will cover necessities than it is to have various departments providing different parts of what people need on a means-tested basis. The problem with that is if the UBI doesn't actually pay out enough for someone to be able to afford everything they need. Healthcare seems like the biggest variable here though, and if we had a sufficient UBI + universal health coverage, I don't think there would be many, if any, remaining social programs that couldn't be eliminated.