Re:A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
by wtbob on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @08:25AM
(#11619911)
> Conservatives don't give a shit about social welfare, this is just another scheme to enrich their pals and undermine the social safety net.
Huh?! That makes no sense: how is giving everyone a sufficient income to survive undermining the social safety net? How is increasing taxes on the wealthy enriching their pals?
Re:A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
by Spooky23 on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @05:01PM
(#11624211)
It will allow property owners to pull in higher rents and ultimately reduce the availability of things needed to support children -- good food, healthcare, etc.
But why employ that many people to do something we don't need, when you could also employ them to do something more productive?
Re:A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
by Spooky23 on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @04:59PM
(#11624196)
I'm arguing with the notion that basic income will magically solve all problems.
If you study the history of social welfare at all, you'll find that handing out cash was tried before and failed dismally for a variety of reasons.
Additionally, poor people often deeply resent cash handouts and the recipients of them. Housing aid, food stamps, etc are seen as a help vs a handout.
Because human services jobs employ thousands of people (a state like New York has 40k+ people in public sector social services and at least that many private sector) and control thousands of votes.
Democrats will have a hard time supporting it, because those unionized workers will get them voted out.
It's also very telling about what "basic income" really is. Conservatives don't give a shit about social welfare, this is just another scheme to enrich their pals and undermine the social safety net.