Thread by @scottsantens

THREAD: It's amazing how @RashidaTlaib's plan which would give every adult earning less than $50k a $250/mo boost is rightfully seen as very progressive by progressives but those same progressives can cry neoliberal at @AndrewYang's plan that would boost the same people the same?

Example: If someone on SNAP + SSI is getting $750/mo right now, and they choose the $1k/mo Freedom Dividend instead, their incomes get boosted by $250/mo. They also gain full control over the foods they buy. Rashida's LIFT+ would be the same boost, but maintain SNAP's control.

So why is it more progressive to boost incomes of those on welfare, but in a way that maintains control and maintains high marginal tax rates on earned income? Is that what progressive means to you? Is progressivism defined as paternalistic control and punishment of employment?

Personally, I think those pushing against the FD as not progressive enough *cough* Seder *cough* who instead support policies that don't decrease poverty & inequality as much as what @AndrewYang proposes, need to take a moment to consider what the goal of progressivism really is.

Is the goal of progressivism to maintain all existing programs and power structures, and to only create more policies? Or is the goal to reduce poverty and inequality, to fight for security and dignity, and to meaningfully improve the lives of ALL people, regardless of income?

There is way too much reverence of existing welfare programs, no matter how badly designed they are. Just as Obamacare should be replaced by #MedicareForAll, conditional welfare should be replaced by #UBI. Unconditional universality is hugely progressive.

medium.com/basic-income/t…

TANF as the worst of all examples is actively *increasing* the racial inequality gap. If as a progressive you think TANF needs to exist on top of UBI, that means you think it's important that the racial inequality gap should continue being increased. Why?

theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

I do not wish to claim any progressive who doesn't like Yang's UBI plan isn't a true progressive, but at the same time, they very much remind me of libertarians who are focused only on taxes instead of liberty. PROGRESS is in the name. Live up to your principles and fight for it.

Finally, if you consider yourself progressive and believe that the most progressive of all policies is to coerce people into employer/employee relationships with a federal job guarantee by withholding basic income so people must work to exist, reconsider.

medium.com/basic-income/h…

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