The Basic Income Debate
There is no reason or logic in the “should we/shouldn’t we” implement unconditional basic income debate, the only question is how
There is no legitimate debate of “should we/shouldn’t we” implement a basic income
The only debate when it comes to unconditional basic income that makes sense is how should we implement an unconditional basic income
Arguments against basic income are often rooted in reform of another entity, such as the notion that UBI will just “kick” people off of social safety nets, the same way that an increase in wages would “kick” people off of social safety nets but this is solved by implementing social services reform
People say prices on goods and rent will go up because landlords and corporations will know people have more money, this is easily solved with boycotts of pricy establishments and rent control legislation
The falsehood that basic income would cause inflation is completely dismissed when a UBI is funded through wealth redistribution and not from printing more money
Pro-capitalism propaganda would have you believe that people should have to earn all income that is afforded to them and that if people are given a basic income they will refuse to work when in reality everyone is deserving of having their basic needs met and having a basic income would allow people to avoid working anywhere they would be exploited
The debate of whether we should implement universal basic income is completely unnecessary. There is no discussion there. When it comes to a plan to address poverty we have more than evolved to the debate of how should we implement basic income.
Arguments against basic income are almost entirely rooted in how we should implement recurring cash payments to all. In an attempt to get to the bottom of potential legitimate criticisms, I’ll address all of the reasons I’ve heard of why we should be against implementing a UBI.
It will kick people off of social safety net programs
Lifting people out of an income bracket that no longer qualifies them for certain social programs occurs if you raise the minimum wage, and lifting people out of poverty is a positive thing.
If a UBI or raise in wages would eliminate people’s qualifications for social programs and the cost of living would still be too high without assistance in basic needs like food and housing, then you should advocate for reform to social program qualifications and making UBI payments exempt from income that is measured for such programs.
It will never happen
As someone who hates snake oil promises, I would never suggest that a UBI that would allow everyone to have a livable wage is right around the corner because it isn’t, but to suggest that it will never happen is not factually accurate.
Basic income pilots are already regularly happening with over 100 examples in the United States alone and this trend of local governments and organizations providing people with guaranteed incomes is only becoming more popular.
Landlords will raise people’s rent by the amount of the basic income
This is a complete farce but would be easily addressed with a federal rent control policy.
Even if it were a legitimate concern, which it isn’t, people who rent their homes only make up 36% of the population, and to argue against a policy that would help people who are unhoused achieve the basic need of adequate shelter simply for fear of someone else’s rent payment going up is selfish and short-sighted.
The price of goods will just go up
Trends in our unfortunately capitalistic society would say otherwise, as the prices of things go down around tax season to entice people who just had a government-distributed payment to spend that money because corporations know such sales will increase profits.
Introducing buying power would only make corporations have to work harder to keep people coming to their establishments because people would have the means to take their money elsewhere more easily and will do so unless prices are reasonable.
It will cause inflation
Arguments against UBI that stem from the notion that printing more money will potentially cause inflation lose all weight when your proposal of UBI is through tax reform and redistribution of wealth that is already in circulation.
Recent spikes in inflation have people on edge because prices increasing while wages remain stagnant make it impossible for people to sustain the cost of living, but these increases are greatly influenced by corporate power and trends of an economy that is recovering from a pandemic. Demand will increase as people attempt to return to business as usual and when the demand is significant enough that supply (something that was reduced during the height of the pandemic) can not keep up this leads to shortages and higher prices.
Other arguments are simply rooted in the spreading of pro-capitalism propaganda.
If you give people money, no one will work
Realistically, a UBI that is implemented will probably never be enough for anyone to not have some other form of income to achieve a comfortable standard of living, thus those who have the means to be traditionally employed will in fact maintain employment. They just won’t maintain employment at a place where their labor is exploited.
Studies from basic income pilots have shown that when people leave the workforce it’s often because with the basic income they have the means to further their education or because they have the means to focus on unpaid work, like caregiving.
People should have to earn the money they are afforded
Why? Why is this arbitrary rule a thing? No, they don’t. Everyone is entitled to a “minimum living standard adequate for one’s well-being” and to think otherwise is to be part of a societal failing.
Workism propaganda has infiltrated people’s daily lives so well that they cannot recognize the toxicity that is tying up their self-worth and identity into what they do to obtain income and how much income they obtain. You deconstruct that and you open yourself up to a whole new existence that is not driven by others' need to profit off of you.
There is no better time than now to advocate for a UBI, and irrational fears of inflation and rent increase only keeps the inevitably long process even more delayed.
Championing this anti-poverty measure, along with other anti-poverty measures like social safety net reform and rent control, will generate an economy that is unable to exploit people the way the current system is able to now. Again, to not want to achieve that is selfish and short-sighted.
References
"Arguments against UBI that stem from the notion that printing more money will potentially cause inflation lose all weight when your proposal of UBI is through tax reform and redistribution of wealth that is already in circulation."
It seems that you have ruled out creating money, an honest approach, in favor using the full force of government to extract more tax from some people to give it to another group of people.
The former is a peaceful and voluntary method, when properly implemented, while the latter is a mutual suicide pact for humanity, in a gorgeous disguise.
While I am in agreement with your goals I cannot abide the means you appear to prefer.
Please explain to me how I am wrong. Thanks.
Don Rowe