3 ms·

So how does basic income work with children? What about the inherent unfairness in reproduction ability between the genders? What about illegal immigrants and

So how does basic income work with children? What about the inherent unfairness in reproduction ability between the genders? What about illegal immigrants and their children? It is easy to create fairness in distribution when we are considering giving every adult who controls their own income an equal amount. But how are children paid for? Do we do like current, where each child gets you less than the previous to incentivize smaller families? Does each child get the same amount? What if an illegal immigrant has children that are US citizens? Also, as poor single individuals, if we pay for children, we greatly improve a woman's ability to have a child without much improving a man's (it is far easier to find someone to have unprotected sex with than to find someone who is willing have unprotected sex and to gestate a fetus for ~9 months). For basic income to become a reality, there needs to be enough groups in a coalition supporting it. This seems one area that could end up fracturing potential allies of a potential coalition.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
A good question, which needs some good discussion. But far from a condemnation of the BI. More money for families is far from a problem for children; they would benefit first (unemployed parents; homeless families).
- Lawtonfogle 12y ago
  >But far from a condemnation of the BI. I'm not condemning it; I see this as just a problematic point that I don't remember being discussed.
mqsoh 12y ago
In the analogy, people with children would be heavier and need another life vest (if they couldn't find another means to float). I'm confused by your men vs. women thing. If a woman has a child, a man had one too.
- Lawtonfogle 12y ago
  >In the analogy, people with children would be heavier and need another life vest (if they couldn't find another means to float). We reach the breakdown point of the analogy because people trying to not drown are spontaneously sprouting new individuals. >If a woman has a child, a man had one too. To have a child requires the sperm from a man but requires the womb from a woman. Only the latter option requires the person to be fully attached and involved for the entire pregnancy. Thus, for a woman to get a man to participate in the required part for her to have a child is much much cheaper than for a man to get a woman to participate. So great is the difference the sperm banks exist where the man is about as removed from the equation as possible.
bryanlarsen 12y ago
Many European countries already have a form of basic income for children: you get $X per child, unconditionally (or with very few strings). Yes, there are people that complain about welfare moms and immigrants having children just to get the benefit, but the vast majority of Europeans would agree that child benefits are a good idea. Another proposal is that the BI for children should partially go towards that child's education.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago

A good question, which needs some good discussion. But far from a condemnation of the BI. More money for families is far from a problem for children; they would benefit first (unemployed parents; homeless families).

Lawtonfogle 12y ago
>But far from a condemnation of the BI. I'm not condemning it; I see this as just a problematic point that I don't remember being discussed.

mqsoh 12y ago

In the analogy, people with children would be heavier and need another life vest (if they couldn't find another means to float). I'm confused by your men vs. women thing. If a woman has a child, a man had one too.

Lawtonfogle 12y ago
>In the analogy, people with children would be heavier and need another life vest (if they couldn't find another means to float). We reach the breakdown point of the analogy because people trying to not drown are spontaneously sprouting new individuals. >If a woman has a child, a man had one too. To have a child requires the sperm from a man but requires the womb from a woman. Only the latter option requires the person to be fully attached and involved for the entire pregnancy. Thus, for a woman to get a man to participate in the required part for her to have a child is much much cheaper than for a man to get a woman to participate. So great is the difference the sperm banks exist where the man is about as removed from the equation as possible.

bryanlarsen 12y ago

Many European countries already have a form of basic income for children: you get $X per child, unconditionally (or with very few strings). Yes, there are people that complain about welfare moms and immigrants having children just to get the benefit, but the vast majority of Europeans would agree that child benefits are a good idea. Another proposal is that the BI for children should partially go towards that child's education.