Re:Japan home to 541,000 young recluses
by aninhumer on Thursday September 08, 2016 @04:16AM
(#12451168)
I don't disagree. I'm not as cavalier about replacing all social support with basic income, and disability should probably remain separate. You won't completely eliminate administration costs, but not having to administer unemployment and pensions will help a lot. (And personally I see the other benefits as more important to society.)
Re:Japan home to 541,000 young recluses
by WalterSear on Thursday September 08, 2016 @10:41AM
(#12453412)
This is a strawman. Basic income isn't some libertarian pipe dream of replacing the government with an ATM. Obviously there are many services that can't be replaced or eliminated.
Re:Japan home to 541,000 young recluses
by ebalit on Thursday September 08, 2016 @11:24AM
(#12453876)
There is more problem with means testing than with needs testing. The government can subsidies wheelchair-adapted vehicles to cost as much as a normal vehicle.
Why someone that doesn't need a special vehicle would use the subsidy? The normal car fit their needs for the same price! And it's not even accounting the more probable situation in which the subsidy doesn't cover all the cost difference.
I'm no expert in politics, but I think if their benefits were cut they would probably protest, and the protesters would look very sympathetic.
And if we say "OK, we'll have some extra funding for legitimate expenses for the legitimately disabled" you're not going to be able to do away with administration costs.