Re:A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
by vidarh on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @09:56AM
(#11620648)
In reality it was a cleverly marketed way of ensuring old people did not continue to live in utter destitution, given that a substantial proportion of the population even of "wealthy" countries are unable - not unwilling - to save enough to retire without ending deep into poverty.
Re:A Basic Income Should Be the Next Big Thing
by r00fus on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @04:47PM
(#11624102)
I think your point (b) is overly contentious and shows you don't really know much about Liberals.
In fact, most liberals I know are very much about personal responsibility - including towards society and the environment.
The reason that it's not done that way is three-fold:
(a) People's contributions are not enough to cover their social security. Instead, they depend on the current workers paying in more than the previous generation did (in a perpetual cycle).
(b) Liberals oppose the idea of personal responsibility. If you don't save any money for retirement, they think society still has an obligation to fund your retirement.
(c) It's a benefit which goes to old people and old people vote a lot.
In reality, it's just a cleverly marketed way of stealing money from the youth and giving it to old voters.