Re:Why a Universal Basic Income Would Be a Calamity
by carapace on Sunday August 20, 2017 @05:19PM
(#15060299)
Yes, this.
UBI is a response to automation to prevent economic collapse by ensuring demand in the face of effectively infinite supply.
If the economy can supply anything instantly[1] it is a huge barrier to entry for Joe Standard to be economically productive.
If you weren't good at computers would you have an alternate career to fall back on? I know I wouldn't. I'd be selling origami on the street corner to make a buck (and competing against e.g. Etsy, etc...)
The basic options are: slavery, mass death, or just give them (us!) money.
[1] Asymptotically approaching the singularity. Star Trek-style replicators based on nanotech. Read the lit. ;-) Amazon and the counterfeiters are already eating the sales of legitimate businesses.
UBI is a response to automation to prevent economic collapse by ensuring demand in the face of effectively infinite supply.
If the economy can supply anything instantly[1] it is a huge barrier to entry for Joe Standard to be economically productive.
If you weren't good at computers would you have an alternate career to fall back on? I know I wouldn't. I'd be selling origami on the street corner to make a buck (and competing against e.g. Etsy, etc...)
The basic options are: slavery, mass death, or just give them (us!) money.
[1] Asymptotically approaching the singularity. Star Trek-style replicators based on nanotech. Read the lit. ;-) Amazon and the counterfeiters are already eating the sales of legitimate businesses.