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We don't have to entirely speculate, we can look at existing evidence. Australia has the most liberal welfare in the world. Anyone over 18 can get $984 per mon
by grecy 7y ago
We don't have to entirely speculate, we can look at existing evidence.
Australia has the most liberal welfare in the world. Anyone over 18 can get $984 per month, and up to another $242 in rent assistance. [1]
It has nothing to do with your previous employment history, or being fired, or anything like that. In fact, you can get it if you've never had a job in your life. You need to be "actively looking for work" which in reality means fill out a few job applications and forms every week. It's easy, I've done it.
You can't live a glamorous life, but you can certainly live. Especially if you get 3-4 people in a cheap rental, you'll have enough money to surf everyday, or watch TV, or smoke weed or do whatever else you want.
Yes, there are people that do exactly that, and probably will for all time. Has it ruined the Australian economy? nope. Has there been rampant inflation? nope.
I know it's not exactly UBI because if you have a paying job you can't get this money. So it's not "extra" money for everyone, but money for those that can't/won't or don't find paying work. It's interesting because it shows what percentage of people choose to sit around and do nothing with their lives and get free money - not that many [2]. When you dig into the numbers and take out age pensioners, people with disabilities and students (who get paid to go to university), you see that about 1.2 million Australian get welfare payments, which is just less than 5% of the population.
Keep in mind Australia has extremely low violent crime rates, and has one the highest happiness indexes in the world, and Melbourne is often voted the world's most livable city (or it comes in 2nd). [4]
Here's a great breakdown of how Australia spends it's welfare money [3]
Please, look at what other countries are doing and learn from it, don't just endlessly speculate about all the terrible ways UBI (or something like the above) might destroy things.
[1] https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/01/16/dole-around-the-world-how-does-australia-stack-up/ https://www.crikey.com.au/2013/01/16/dole-around-the-world-h...
[2] http://theconversation.com/factcheck-is-half-to-two-thirds-of-the-australian-population-receiving-a-government-benefit-41027 http://theconversation.com/factcheck-is-half-to-two-thirds-o...
[3] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/australias-welfare-2017/contents/summary https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/australia...
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Liveability_Ranking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Liveability_Ranking
- RedneckBob 7y agoGood post. Yang provides additional answers in the FAQ he prepared for his POTUS run: - https://www.yang2020.com/what-is-freedom-dividend-faq/ https://www.yang2020.com/what-is-freedom-dividend-faq/ Aside from COVID-19, we have the 4th industrial revolution in progress now. Just take a look at these truck driver's faces once they realize just how far self driving trucks are: - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iaKHeCKcq4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iaKHeCKcq4
- Tempest1981 7y agoAnother similar video - a PBS special on AI, showing Embark's technology in action: https://www.limitstogrowth.org/articles/2019/11/06/pbs-frontline-surveys-a-future-with-artificial-intelligence/ https://www.limitstogrowth.org/articles/2019/11/06/pbs-front...
- datashow 7y agoOK. Then why not any of those places become the innovation engine of the world? I heard people would become more creative and innovative under those circumstances.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- wenc 7y agoYou might now know this if you live in North America because Australia hardly enters our consciousness or our news cycles, but in many parts of the world Australia has a reputation of being a very innovative country, especially in physical engineering and software. Part of it has to do with their anti-authoritarian heritage and survivalist mindset--they don't take hierarchy too seriously. Whether their creativity is helped by a generous welfare society or not, I'm not sure, but you definitely can't say Australians aren't innovative.
- datashow 7y agoMy question is "why not any of those places become the innovation engine of the world". I didn't even mention Australia.