“The basis for this argument is that big government has two major problems.” UBI skeptics would suggest that there’s a much bigger third problem – and that’s t

“The basis for this argument is that big government has two major problems.” UBI skeptics would suggest that there’s a much bigger third problem – and that’s the inherit tendency of government programs to grow beyond their intended purpose. If politician A says a $1,000 a month UBI makes sense, then politician B doesn’t seem too irrational to say that it should be $1,100. Pretty soon you have politicians justifying $10,000 a month based upon economic models that seem reasonable to some and fantasy to others. While simplifying benefits into one basic payout may make sense in a simple economic model where all our needs are similar, reality is more complex. I don’t need a UBI, but my neighbor looking after her adult disabled son could certainly benefit from a lot more than $1,000. I’m not personally for or against a UBI. I just don’t feel like the proponents have answered the larger challenges. This essay, while well-intentioned, avoids the biggest problem pointed out by skeptics – keeping the UBI from becoming bigger and bigger until it collapses and or forces massive austerity measures. Self-restraint when it comes to spending is a trait we’ve yet figure out how to encourage in politicians.