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I'm 100% with you on supporting the idea of a basic income. Not every problem can be solved by technology alone, though (in fact I'd say there are very few prob

I'm 100% with you on supporting the idea of a basic income. Not every problem can be solved by technology alone, though (in fact I'd say there are very few problems that can be solved by technology alone). I think loumf's suggestion probably is the best way for harnessing technology to achieve a basic income but ultimately it will require political action and political support. We're talking about a really huge amount of money and a tremendous change in most people's lives here. Even those who'd likely benefit from a basic income often are averse to it (if they know about the concept at all, that is) because it challenges both traditional capitalist and socialist views of how the world should work. So, convincing people really is the problem here. Creating persuasive visualizations and spreading those with the help of technology perhaps is your best bet at contributing your share. You might want to talk to the people of the local Pirate Party about your ideas. The Pirate Party after all is the only noteworthy party in Germany which supports a basic income (though they admittedly have lost their way since the last elections and need to get their act together if they want to play any role at all again).

halotrope 11y ago
You are probably right about needing politics at some point as well as the fact that convincing people is hard. For some reason it seems to be perceived as a flavour of communism which is framed very badly historically even if the idea in the form of a negative income tax for low earners originated in capitalist / libertarian circles. Regarding the pirate party I think their motives are noble and their use of technology for more openness and transparency is a good approach but ultimately the people in there seem to be involved with themselves and their affairs to an extend that makes it next to impossible to perceive them as an viable agent of change.
- BjoernKW 11y ago
  > but ultimately the people in there seem to be involved with themselves and their affairs to an extend that makes it next to impossible to perceive them as an viable agent of change They're still the best option though. The other parties have by and large long since foregone wanting to shape the future for the better. They're mostly bureaucrats and administrators with a general lack of a positive vision. It's no use complaining. If you want to bring about change you'll need to get involved yourself. Besides, the Pirate Party had some successes recently regarding copyright and freedom of panorama laws so to some extent they already are a viable agent of change.

halotrope 11y ago

You are probably right about needing politics at some point as well as the fact that convincing people is hard. For some reason it seems to be perceived as a flavour of communism which is framed very badly historically even if the idea in the form of a negative income tax for low earners originated in capitalist / libertarian circles. Regarding the pirate party I think their motives are noble and their use of technology for more openness and transparency is a good approach but ultimately the people in there seem to be involved with themselves and their affairs to an extend that makes it next to impossible to perceive them as an viable agent of change.

BjoernKW 11y ago
> but ultimately the people in there seem to be involved with themselves and their affairs to an extend that makes it next to impossible to perceive them as an viable agent of change They're still the best option though. The other parties have by and large long since foregone wanting to shape the future for the better. They're mostly bureaucrats and administrators with a general lack of a positive vision. It's no use complaining. If you want to bring about change you'll need to get involved yourself. Besides, the Pirate Party had some successes recently regarding copyright and freedom of panorama laws so to some extent they already are a viable agent of change.