Re:Trends that will create demand for an Unconditional Basic...
by dragonwriter on Thursday July 11, 2013 @11:57AM
(#6026854)
> You can't use Social Security funds to fund a Basic Income.
Yes, you can.
> It operates similarly to a pension fund
It presents itself as one, but it really operates as a general-tax-supported social-benefit program with a variety of eligibility criteria.
> so it would be equivalent to confiscate peoples lifetime savings.
Sure, some people would politically attack it that way, particularly if the general BI reduced the SS benefits to which people already qualified would receive. Its less subject to this political attack, however, if SS is merged into BI in such a way that no one currently paid into SS ends up with less BI at any point than they would have received from SS.
Yes, you can.
> It operates similarly to a pension fund
It presents itself as one, but it really operates as a general-tax-supported social-benefit program with a variety of eligibility criteria.
> so it would be equivalent to confiscate peoples lifetime savings.
Sure, some people would politically attack it that way, particularly if the general BI reduced the SS benefits to which people already qualified would receive. Its less subject to this political attack, however, if SS is merged into BI in such a way that no one currently paid into SS ends up with less BI at any point than they would have received from SS.