11–20 of 387 posts
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
"As of 2014, the annual cost of a UBI would have been about $200 billion cheaper than the current system. By 2020, it would be nearly a trillion dollars cheaper." Remarkable how much entitlement spending is booked in the near future.
No one is ever shocked about all of the SS trust fund cash put into US treasuries (general fund deficit spending), but always shocked that "thats going to need to be paid back one day."
https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/WhatAreTheTrust.ht...
> The Social Security trust funds hold money not needed in the current year to pay benefits and administrative costs and, by law, invest it in special Treasury bonds that are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. A market rate of interest is paid to the trust funds on the bonds they hold, and when those bonds reach maturity or are needed to pay benefits, the Treasury redeems them.
Trust fund stats: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/STATS/table4a3.html
The mind boggles. We've been living like a college student on credit cards, and the bill is coming due.
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
Many existing welfare systems fail in this same scenario. For any feasible welfare plan it is possible to invent scenarios where someone can torpedo themselves. The goal should just be to make it harder for external forces to hurt people, and maybe a bit more difficult to torpedo yourself.
At some point welfare programs must say something along the lines of "if you take help we give you and set it on fire, that's past the line, go find a charity or psychiatrist to help you"
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
Have them stop paying for SAAS Startups next month? Many existing welfare systems fail in this same scenario. For any feasible welfare plan it is possible to invent scenarios where someone can torpedo themselves. The goal should just be to make it harder for external forces to hurt people, and maybe a bit more difficult to torpedo yourself. At some point welfare programs must say something along the lines of "if you…
Ideally, social service workers could still help these folks.
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
"As of 2014, the annual cost of a UBI would have been about $200 billion cheaper than the current system. By 2020, it would be nearly a trillion dollars cheaper." Remarkable how much entitlement spending is booked in the near future.
Meanwhile, $13k * 300m people, results in an expense of 3.9 trillion. Greater than the entire federal budget.
EDIT: I AM WRONG. The spending proposal from the article does not exceed the entire federal budget, because people who earn more than 30k of income get payed a smaller UBI. I did a rough calculation using the best numbers I could easily find describing the USA's income distribution (good numbers are hard to find). The result was that this proposal would likely cost just short of 3 trillion dollars. Significantly less than the entire 3.8 trillion dollar budget, but still more than we currently spend on entitlements.
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
This question is out of scope. UBI is meant to be unconditional income (to be allocated as each individual sees fit), not unconditional food, shelter, or other necessities.
Well, if it's being paid for by eliminating programs which do provide food, shelter, and other necessities, then it's not really out of scope to ask how we're going to provide those.
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
I have another (hope not stupid) fundamental question: do we have to give people a different UBI based on their location (aka cost-of-life)? If no, it will be pretty hard to find a right value. If yes, should we also change it as soon as they relocate?
If you want to stay near family and friends, find a nice cheap place an hour or two away, if you want a shorter commute that's a luxury, not a necessity, and you should work for it.
Basic incomes are for the minimum needed to live a decent life, living in a specific expensive location is a luxury you should have to work for.
"As of 2014, the annual cost of a UBI would have been about $200 billion cheaper than the current system. By 2020, it would be nearly a trillion dollars cheaper." Remarkable how much entitlement spending is booked in the near future.
I don't think this adds up. Here ( https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-bud... ) is federal spending for 2015. It shows a total federal spending of 3.8 trillion dollars. This is all spending, including 0.5 trillion on the military, 0.2 trillion in interest on debt, and tons of other spending on things that are not welfare or social-safety-net programs. Meanwhile, $13k * 300m people, results in an…
Once again no answer to the main Question: What to do with people that blow their UBI by the 2nd of each month on SAAS Startups? Let them starve? Go without Shelter?
I have another (hope not stupid) fundamental question: do we have to give people a different UBI based on their location (aka cost-of-life)? If no, it will be pretty hard to find a right value. If yes, should we also change it as soon as they relocate?
There are already neighborhoods now where most people, including me, cannot afford to live, and I don't see it as a tremendous injustice.