Instead of just reflexively opposing a Basic Income in the US, the Republicans should actually look at the advantages.
If the new Basic Income Law is passed so that it completely REPLACES welfare payments, food stamps, Social Security payments, disability payments, and ALL other government payments, the savings in paper shuffling and bureaucracy alone would pay for the new program.
Also, by writing the new law to apply to "US Citizens ONLY," it would eliminate Billions of dollars in payments to illegals in all of those replaced programs.
A Basic Income would also increase the buying power for retailers, etc. This idea makes perfect sense from both a liberal and conservative perspective.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 75011669 I am a libertarian that is closer to the conservative side of the spectrum and I have given this proposal a lot of thought. During my contemplation of a universal income the first question I had is where does the money come from? Is it generated from taxes on those who work? Is it generated at the treasury as fiat that is not expected to be paid back with interest? Is it considered a form of subsidy that you lose if you have a job?
If the income is generated from taxing those who work then I can not support it. It is bad enough that the government feels compelled to steal people's money and resources and give it away to those who really don't need it as is. If the income is generated as fiat from the treasury with the expectation of interest upon repayment then I could never support it since again it would just generate debt.
The next problem is inflation. If you give people a universal income of say around 900 dollars a month there won't be much that costs less than 899.00 even a mcdouble. Keep in mind there is already trillions of dollars floating around the globe that if all sent back in short order would completely destroy our economy, you would be adding to that.
The next issue is do you lose it for earning a certain amount for being employed? If so you just completely took away the incentive to work on the books.
Honestly you do realize this is just as terrible an idea as making the 15 an hour minimum wage right, It's gonna have the same outcome. Once everyone has at minimum the same amount of money goods and services will adjust pricing to get as much of the base amount as possible "inflation" which assuredly means people like you will scream for price controls which in turn means we quickly spiral into a Venezuelan esq nightmare.
Not saying a universal income is impossible but I am saying it is a quick road to ruin if even the slightest detail is left unchecked.
