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AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

51–60 of 207 posts

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#51

Nothing that requires the labors of other is a "right". UBI funded by private equity is fine. UBI funded by taxes is theft and extortion.

My view on taxes is that it’s already the government’s money. Redistributive policies aren’t different in moral character from eg setting an interest rate. The most valuable thing about UBI is that it creates the conditions for a free market in labor. I can only guess that would be better for the economy than the current state of forced labor.

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#52
post #42
post #24

Can they not do basic math? There are around 30 mil adults in California. Even if provision 18992.1 (b) is 5 mil people, that's still 25 mil people. That's 25 mil * $12,000 = $300 bil a year. The ENTIRE California state budget for 2020 is only $220 bil. They would have to more than double the tax revenue for a state with already very high taxes. Now, assuming the most generous interpretation of their 10% VAT proposal…

It's mainly a try at introducing a VAT, populist UBI stuff is probably secondary goal

VAT seems an odd way to fund Basic Income. It should be part of the income tax system. I believe Friedman called it a negative income tax. If it's a livable BI, it should replace welfare and similar benefits.

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#53
post #24

Can they not do basic math? There are around 30 mil adults in California. Even if provision 18992.1 (b) is 5 mil people, that's still 25 mil people. That's 25 mil * $12,000 = $300 bil a year. The ENTIRE California state budget for 2020 is only $220 bil. They would have to more than double the tax revenue for a state with already very high taxes. Now, assuming the most generous interpretation of their 10% VAT proposal…

This is just a guess but the GDP of California is estimated to be around $3tn. So $300bn is approx 10% GDP.

So, by VAT, maybe they mean a 10% haircut on absolutely everything?

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#54
post #39
post #24

Can they not do basic math? There are around 30 mil adults in California. Even if provision 18992.1 (b) is 5 mil people, that's still 25 mil people. That's 25 mil * $12,000 = $300 bil a year. The ENTIRE California state budget for 2020 is only $220 bil. They would have to more than double the tax revenue for a state with already very high taxes. Now, assuming the most generous interpretation of their 10% VAT proposal…

Boy, I already pay some of the highest taxes in the country and now I get to pay more. For what? They cannot manage anything else properly in this state.

What percentage of your income goes to taxes? In the EU almost half of your income would be withheld for different taxes, and depending on the country, you would also get absymal health care, with a system that forces you to pay out of pocket, after a part of your salary was already taken to pay for universal health care.

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#55
post #50
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Boy, I already pay some of the highest taxes in the country and now I get to pay more. For what? They cannot manage anything else properly in this state.

>For what? Schools. Roads. Sewers. Water. Clean air. Power. Safety. Just to name a few. Nothing important really.

WA has no income tax and their schools aren’t worse. Oregon has no sales tax and their schools aren’t worse. Are CA public schools by far the best in the nation? ( they are not)

Edit: before you jump into the “other means funding” - I lived (and owned house) in WA and CA and the overall tax burden is MUCH higher in CA

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#56

If you pass this without passing radical reform of zoning and building millions more homes, it will be yet another wealth transfer mechanism from poor consumers to wealthy California landholders. Rents will eventually match the increase in income as way too much demand chases an incredible, inhumane, History Will Judge You shortage of supply. Which, amazingly, is one of the reasons this could actually pass. Californi…

You write as if markets are a zero sum game, however they are most certainly not.

You say the poor tenant will transfer wealth to the wealthy landlord as if the tenant is losing. However -- they are both gaining.

Say the rent is $1000.

Obviously, the property usage right is worth to the landlord less than $1000, otherwise he would've just used the property himself. He gains.

The property usage right is worth more than $1000 to the tenant, otherwise he would've just kept the money. He gains.

Both people gain. Both people get richer. Both people ended up with more than they had prior to the transaction.

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#57
post #55
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>For what? Schools. Roads. Sewers. Water. Clean air. Power. Safety. Just to name a few. Nothing important really.

WA has no income tax and their schools aren’t worse. Oregon has no sales tax and their schools aren’t worse. Are CA public schools by far the best in the nation? ( they are not) Edit: before you jump into the “other means funding” - I lived (and owned house) in WA and CA and the overall tax burden is MUCH higher in CA

[deleted]

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#58
post #55
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>For what? Schools. Roads. Sewers. Water. Clean air. Power. Safety. Just to name a few. Nothing important really.

WA has no income tax and their schools aren’t worse. Oregon has no sales tax and their schools aren’t worse. Are CA public schools by far the best in the nation? ( they are not) Edit: before you jump into the “other means funding” - I lived (and owned house) in WA and CA and the overall tax burden is MUCH higher in CA

Clearly those states fun schools through other means :).

Re: AB2712 – California Universal Basic Income

#60
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This bill will not pass. Its introduction is primarily a signalling exercise and a populist rallying cry.

we should vote out those who introduced it. In CA it is very easy to vote by mail. Please do

Checked my (already filled in mail-in ballot). No, Evan Low (who introduced this) aren’t getting my vote now. (and I have to request a new ballot now :( )
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