Are you prepared for UBI?

One eyed Jack wrote: »

You can go further back than the 80’s if you like, social inequality has always existed, because it is the basis of social progress. If everyone were equal, society would remain stagnant and there would be no such thing as economic growth and development. The role I do now for instance didn’t exist 20 years ago, and likely won’t exist in 20 years time, but other roles will exist which present opportunities for employment. The products I buy now didn’t exist 20 years ago, and likely won’t exist in 20 years time either.

UBI has always been something of an ideological pipe dream, and will still be an ideological pipe dream when the vast majority of people are more interested in providing a better quality of life for themselves and their families, than caring about people who want everyone to be equally impoverished in the pursuit of a more equal society.

Productivity has increased massively due to technological advancement. We produce far more than ever with far lower human involvement. If you look at trends since the 80's productivity has kept increasing massively while wages have not followed that trend. We are producing more stuff than ever but working the same hours and for less money indexing in inflation. That doesn't make sense unless you look at where the money goes. The idea that this isn't a growing problem is head in the sand stuff.

As for your comment on the UBI. I support it but I don't know that I am a huge fan of it and there are many people on the left, idealist whatever you want to box them off as who have major problems with it. If everyone receives it how does someone think that this benefits the worst off in society? It is about as far removed from socialism as you can get and will only further widen the gaps between the classes.

The current issues though as shown during this pandemic is that we need some sort of safety net and while I can see many ugly problems with the UBI, I still haven't seen better suggestion that can be actually implemented that make some kind of sense. Solutions though need to be thought about and implemtned now because as seen during this pandemic if this is left in the hands of business/Governement it will be a disaster. It won't be until unemployment rises hugely, demand drops massively and a lack of disposable income leads to an inability to fund the current consumer economy that things will change. That will be a slow process that maybe only really enacts significant change when enough people are effected to cause mass revolt.

The problem is that if things do play out this way it will mean extreme hardship for many who don't deserve it and it will be a particularly painful period in history for the majority of society.

Spain is about to bring in a basic income scheme which the government thinks will 'stay forever'

https://www.businessinsider.com/spain-to-approve-basic-income-scheme-response-coroanvirus-outbreak-2020-5?utm_source=reddit.com&r=US&IR=T