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There seems to be a misconception among #BasicIncome opponents that UBI is supposed to be "enough to live on", right out of the gate. I see two variations on this theme:
1) $1000 isn't enough to live on, so UBI is a sham!
2) Giving living expenses = laziness!
1/x
1) $1000 isn't enough to live on, so UBI is a sham!
2) Giving living expenses = laziness!
1/x
Lets unpack these, shall we? The first is the worst kind of "It's not enough, so we shouldn't even bother!" argument. It's the type of mindset that causes creeping acceptance of mediocrity, because there's no point in trying anything different. 2/x
Do I think UBI could and should be $3000/month? Even $5000/month per person? Heck yeah. But $1000 is a good proof-of-concept number to start with, and then you build from there. 3/x
The second one...is just weird to me. For one, $1000 *isn't* enough to live on in so many places, and it would be a bureaucratic nightmare (and defeat the purpose of UBI simplifying social services). Most UBI supporters are very aware of this fact. 4/x
What UBI creates is not financial comfort, but *financial stability and freedom*. Most households will still need some sort of paid employment income- but knowing that there will *always* be at least $1000 coming in each month, means they have *options*. 5/x
It means not having to panic about unexpected vet bills, or a sudden pay cut, or any other financial crisis- because you will *never be utterly destitute*. Basic Income says we, as a society, think it is immoral for people to be at zero. 6/x
When you have financial stability like that, it means you have options to stand up for better working conditions, to peruse community education and volunteerism, to do things that *aren't based on survival* 7/x
Are there some people, in some situations, who would be able to quit their jobs and live off $1000 from the government? Probably, yes. SO WHAT? Why is that an issue? It's only a "problem" to the people who think that human beings are only happy when laboring for others. 8/x
#BasicIncome is not a panacea. It's not a magic wand. It's not a replacement for all the social services our society needs. It *IS* the laying of a foundation so that everyone has the same floor to build on. 9/9
Addendum- I realized in #4 that I missed part of a sentence! Oops! It would be a bureaucratic nightmare to tailor a UBI to the economic reality of individual locations.
