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0 pointsnradov2mo ago0 comments

And "proper" UBI will never actually be tried, at least not on any significant scale. Because if you actually run the numbers you'll see that the level of taxation required plus the inflationary effects make the whole scheme unworkable.

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Legend24402mo ago

Taxation and inflation are 2nd order effects. There's a deeper underlying reason.

The point of work is to produce the things we need to live. Somebody's gotta grow the crops, drive the trucks, mop the floors, crunch the numbers, process the paperwork, write the code, whatever.

If you offer enough UBI for people to live without working... the work won't get done, and things we need won't get made.

Jblx22mo ago

Has anyone ever tried to look at the concept of a Universal Basic Job? If you can show up semi-sober, you get paid to paint over graffiti, or pick up trash along the road, or something.

loeg2mo ago

This is kinda what minimum wage jobs are? You could say depression era WPA/CCC programs were an example of a government providing this.

Jblx22mo ago

No, minimum wage jobs are kind of the opposite. They push underqualified people to the side, since who wants to pay $15/hour for someone only capable of producing $5/hr of value. And most jobs generally come with more obligations, like "we need you here 2pm - 10pm, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday".

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Legend24402mo ago

Taxation and inflation are 2nd order effects. There's a deeper underlying reason.

The point of work is to produce the things we need to live. Somebody's gotta grow the crops, drive the trucks, mop the floors, crunch the numbers, process the paperwork, write the code, whatever.

If you offer enough UBI for people to live without working... the work won't get done, and things we need won't get made.

Jblx22mo ago

Has anyone ever tried to look at the concept of a Universal Basic Job? If you can show up semi-sober, you get paid to paint over graffiti, or pick up trash along the road, or something.

loeg2mo ago

This is kinda what minimum wage jobs are? You could say depression era WPA/CCC programs were an example of a government providing this.

Jblx22mo ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse