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Re:Driverless buses hit the streets of Sion by onion2k on Sunday May 15, 2016 @02:05AM (#11699703)
Imagine a world in which 50% of people worked, and the other half lived on basic welfare income. How do you think the 50% that worked would feel about the other half?

The point is that people would choose whether to work or not. Everyone would have that choice - live on a basic, low income, or top it up by working. If you've chosen to work then it's unlikely you'll resent those who choose not to.

Furthermore, even if that wasn't the case, think about the number of people who hate their jobs and resent going to work now. Getting that down to 50% of people hating their job would be an improvement.

Re:Driverless buses hit the streets of Sion by alphapapa on Monday May 16, 2016 @01:52PM (#11708114)
You're not thinking logically or rationally. Money does not grow on trees. Economies only work when people do. Taxes come from people working and spending (except property tax, which comes from simply existing). Without enough people working, there would not be sufficient taxes to support the people who are not working.

For example, look at Social Security: as the population ages, fewer people are working while more people are receiving. Of course, the Fed can literally create money with the press of a key on a keyboard, but eventually that bubble bursts and takes the economy with it.

And all of this is subordinate to human nature, because that rules over everything we do. And basic human nature shows that people fare better and are happier and healthier when they are able to provide for themselves. People are also lazy and will mostly take the path of least resistance. Put those two issues together with a world in which people don't have to work, and you have a recipe for disaster.

If your desire for a UBI is driven by compassion, then it is misguided, because it would not be good for people who are healthy and able to support themselves. For people who are disabled, that's a different story, but that wouldn't be a UBI.