You're overestimating the generosity of unemployment benefits, and you're underestimating people's work ethic when given unrestricted (strings-free) transfers.

You're overestimating the generosity of unemployment benefits, and you're underestimating people's work ethic when given unrestricted (strings-free) transfers. In the first instance, unemployment benefits do not typically replace "half to 3/4 of your salary," and under ordinary circumstances US benefits are greatly limited in duration. Those for whom the "half to 3/4 of salary" replacement is more correct are also those who started on the low end of the salary scale, and I daresay the working poor should not be the subject of your ire. On the second point, your assumption -- while common enough -- has not been replicated in modern-day UBI trials. On the balance, those have shown somewhere between no change and small positive changes to work intention over the existing set of social benefits, which on one hand tend to require demonstrating job-search effort but on the other hand tend to be withdrawn beginning with a low earned salary level. In particular, I have seen no modern-day research demonstrating that providing a fixed benefit creates an indolent class.