Universal basic income?

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   lovetherainposted 5 years ago

   Are you for it or against? Why?

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      wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      One of the Scandinavian countries seriously considered it recently.  They turned it down because it would make their country a tremendous magnet for people that don't want to work.
      
      But I also see it as a huge encouragement to those that are happy to live off the efforts of others.  One day we may be at the point that robotics produces all our wants and needs, but until that time what a person builds/produces belongs to them; not to a couch potato that doesn't wish to build anything themselves.
      
      At the same time it encourages living off of charity, it discourages hard work and effort, for it mostly goes to support those that choose not to participate in that work.
      
      As a whole, then, it is non-productive and can serve mostly to degrade a country and its people.

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   2. 0

      Hxprofposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I'm against it. You don't work, you don't eat. That's it.

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      1. 95

         wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         What of the veteran that is a quadriplegic as a result of defining your freedom?  What of the child incapable of feeding themselves, either physically or financially?  The elderly too weak to work?
         
         We need a safety net for the unfortunate in our lives.  We do NOT need a guaranteed income for everyone.

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         1. 76

            lovetherainposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            would you give free money to a single mother who can work but doesn't?

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               wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Probably not, though circumstances might dictate it happen.
               
               Making an error in judgement does not relieve one of the consequences of that error.

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         Hxprofposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         My comment was regards those who WON'T work.

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            wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

            Makes sense to me.  The only problem is deciding who can't and who won't; fraud is so common as to be accepted as normal today.

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               lovetherainposted 5 years agoin reply to this

               Fraud? In what context?

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               1. 95

                  wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                  Claiming an inability to work when quite able to.  It is a major problem in this country with disability payments, and the single biggest reason that people who truly ARE disabled have such a tough time getting help.
                  
                  You gave an example yourself with the single mother that could work but won't.

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                     lovetherainposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                     Is there a "major problem" with disability fraud? How do you know that? got any statistics to back that up/? Any links or anything like that?

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                        wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                        Nope - no links.  Just a long history of seeing them.  You'll have to research it yourself.  Check both welfare and insurance fraud.  You might look into disability payments by the military as well; they have a history of searching hard for anything they can call a partial disability and assign lifetime payments to.

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                           Live to Learnposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                           I wouldn't worry about the military. They'll do anything to deny benefits. Lying, among them.

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                        2. 76

                           lovetherainposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                           Well I haven't researched it. But I do know it is VERY HARD to get disability, at least the people I know who have real disabilities and have tried to get it. Why would anyone WANT to live off 700 bucks a month if they could work and make a lot more?

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                              wildernessposted 5 years agoin reply to this

                              Because they are lazy.  Because it is easier.  Because they can do it while working "under the table".  In some cases, because they can draw it while holding a full time, good paying job. 
                              
                              But yes, I know it is very difficult.  I know one man with brain damage and that cannot hold a job that it took 5 years to get help.  In the meantime his parents, in their 80's and one packing an oxygen tank everywhere, worked to support themselves and him.  It is absolutely shameful what we do to those that are truly disabled.

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   3. 83

      GA Andersonposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      What about you, are you for it or against it?
      
      As a nation, I think it would be one of the worst things we could do.
      
      GA

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      1. 76

         lovetherainposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         No. I think it would cause more problems than it would solve.

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      Credence2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I have to be basically against that idea and don't believe that we have to go that far in this society to work toward a less unequal economic environment here.

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   Ed Fisherposted 5 years ago

   Free Income proves one out agenda for sure , everything for free IS the dream of those on the left , health care ,rent ,  income , education ,  travel ,  food , living expenses , small business subsidies ......  Have we not said this a million times and had liberals defend against the statement ?
   
   Them ;"We want Free stuff !"

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   Live to Learnposted 5 years ago

   I don't think anyone should go without food and shelter but I also think you should give something in return for what you get. I'm not inclined to support the idea of handing out free money. We've been doing that for a while and look where it's gotten is.

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   Ed Fisherposted 5 years ago

   We HAVE safety nets in America and we almost always have had them , in fact more now than ever .  A hundred  and fifty or two hundred years ago the wealthier people in towns and cities ,had to support the "paupers " by law .  Usually they were the doctors , attorneys , etc... who had to provide assistances .
   
   Now ?  Unlimited support for the needy .

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5. 0

   Ed Fisherposted 5 years ago

   Yet there seems to be no fairness patterns in SSI disability allocation , we see fake abusers all the time and as you describe those who can't seem to catch a break and truly deserve it ?
   
   Where's the policing ?

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