Libertarians like UBI because while they don't like large government giving out entitlements, but they know they've lost the battle in trying to repeal entitlem

Libertarians like UBI because while they don't like large government giving out entitlements, but they know they've lost the battle in trying to repeal entitlements - so if they're going to be stuck with the system they'd prefer one where people can do what they want with a money and a exponentially smaller government bureaucracy administering the handouts. It's not really shackling if you can do what you want with they money. I think there might be some merit to your idea of UBI just keeping the existing elites at the top, if the foretold future automation taking away all the jobs does come to pass. In the meantime however, I think it's wrong to say that people will just stop working and trying to advance upwards. Most people aren't going to be happy with just a bare minimum income, they like the stuff a high income gets them. Plus work is still something many people derive meaning from, at all incomes. Work and upward mobility won't just go away with a comprehensive social safety net.