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UBI was only a small-ish step to a moneyless post-scarcity economy. When rent is taken care of (cause there isn't rent), along with food, water, electricity, c
by crankylinuxuser 8y ago
UBI was only a small-ish step to a moneyless post-scarcity economy.
When rent is taken care of (cause there isn't rent), along with food, water, electricity, communication and more, what is there to 'buy'?
- sokoloff 8y agoI wager that a limitless supply of "other things to buy" will spring up, just as it already has today. Clothes, cars, boats, planes, watches, electronics, vacations, fancy meals, you name it...
- pdimitar 8y agoThere definitely are a huge number of things that will arise to be on the top 50 desired list. However, if everybody has a respectable existence -- rent/mortgage, food, utilities being covered -- then these other things will be truly and for the first time optional and non-crucial. Which I think will be a big win for the mental health of the population.
- wtracy 8y agoThere are people who spend thousands of dollars on Candy Crush. There will always be something more. Also, I have to point out, if you had made that list a hundred years ago, electricity wouldn't have been on it. Luxuries have a way of becoming necessities.
- max76 8y agoIf there wasn't a need to buy rent, food, transportation, electrity, and communication I wonder if Candy Crush would have micro transactions.
- wtracy 8y agoI would say yes, because the developers would find something equally inane to spend money on. Perhaps a more relevant example: Look at the bottled water industry. Even if all our creature comforts are provided for free, someone will pay for a "premium" version.
- thelasthuman 8y agoUBI is an attempt to save capitalism from itself. That's why you see 1%ers like Elon musk advocate for it.
- Aloha 8y agoCapitalism has always needed protection from eating itself, market economies suck, but there are few better workable options. UBI is just the next logical extension of the welfare state.