@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Here's what Yang won't say: Welfare sucks. It was built on an idea that we should help the "deserving poor" who were worthy of our help. Needless to say, that attitude has allowed dems and GOP to cut down our system to next to nothing. Let's dive a bit deeper into why UBI>welfare
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang First, consider UBI an improvement on welfare. How? The programs it effectively upgrades: TANF, WIC, SNAP, SSI are filled with restrictions, time limits, and (most importantly) stigma. You monitor your spending, pray you don't lose it cuz of random income. UBI saves much stress.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Just as bad, welfare's not very generous! Who gets $700 in SNAP? No one. The federal max is $500/mo! NY is <$200 (and it only goes down if you have more ppl)!! Oh and to be eligible you must meet income requirements (and many states don't let you have >$2k saved)! Crazy, right?
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) replaced a program, trying to get ppl off welfare ("welfare queens" propaganda). In the 3rd MOST GENEROUS state, New York, the MAX you get is $789 (CA is close). Not bad, right? Oh but, you only get it for 5 years. Max. EVER.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Now technically, you CAN extend by 6 months at a time. Think how much paperwork and bureaucracy and waiting that is. Oh yea, and half of states have a max that's LESS than 5 years. Oh forgot to mention, SNAP? You can only get it for 3 months EVERY 3 YEARS (unless disabled). Crazy
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang But let's keep going. I haven't talked about WIC, which provides assistance to millions of mothers, infants, children. Average? $40/mo per person. You get more for an infant ($150/mo for baby, $50 for mom), but did I mention you can only buy from a very specific list of things?
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang We're robbing ppl of flexibility. We literally dictate what they get (as a list). A mom can't use that money for a breast pump (correct if wrong). SNAP is restricted through EBT. You can use it for food. Fix your car? Pfft. Also, your neighborhood is a food dessert, so fast food.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Boy, still not done. SSI is disability for people who don't have job credits (not to be confused with Social Security and Disability Insurance which both stack on Yang's UBI). More messed up incentives here, ppl are afraid to work or volunteer because benefits might get slashed.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang One permanently disabled friend had her absent father and 18yo sister's income counted when they tried to slash her SSI in half, even though neither contributes a cent to her. The benefit? Max is $783/mo. Avg is $549/mo. But, SSA itself says AVG length for adults is just 1.3 yrs.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Ok, so let's put this all together. The typical poor childless adult would get $500/mo MORE from UBI than TANF and SNAP in the 1st year. Oh, and 10 YRS AFTER? Still getting $12k/yr in UBI. Only getting $500 every 3 YEARS from SNAP. Even in 3rd generous NY, UBI better from day 1.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Extreme example: Disabled single mom with an infant and a 3yo. 1st year with avg TANF, WIC, SNAP, SSI, she gets $1315/mo. Good. TANF and WIC are gone by yr 6.
Yr 10 - she'd have $87k welfare vs. $120k UBI
Yr 20 - $100k welfare vs. $240k UBI
(Oh, and both her kids get UBI now too)
Yr 10 - she'd have $87k welfare vs. $120k UBI
Yr 20 - $100k welfare vs. $240k UBI
(Oh, and both her kids get UBI now too)
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Oh and the best part? She can take welfare for the first few years when it makes sense, then seemlessly transition to UBI - no major paperwork, eligibility, waiting lines. It would lift burden of juggling 2 kids and stressful income, work (these are real bad), time requirements.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Now the most extreme - 100% disabled single mom of 3, in 3rd most generous NY (NH and AK are outliers w reason) gets ~$2500/mo the 1st year. She'd also be down to $1300 by yr 6, but still better than UBI. And yet.. even she is not a reason for us to not do Freedom Dividend. Why?
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang A few things. First, UBI doesn't come with restrictions and requirements. She won't have to stop all income (alimony, child support count too). She doesn't have to spend all $500 on food each mo. In real terms, she only has $783 to pay rent, car, utilities, supplies, fun, etc.
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang (Especially a problem when, again, many poor communities are food deserts and swamps and filled with junk food that take EBT, with few to no healthy food options. It's expensive to be poor). Still, that might still be better than UBI for some families. But then the kids turn 18..
@nprpolitics @AndrewYang Super long thread, sorry. In summary, the vast majority of ppl (ESPECIALLY the poor) will be massively helped by Yang's UBI. We didn't even dive into stigma, stress, or how UBI could prevent millions from needing assistance at all (living check to check = teetering on the line).
