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RE: Our playing fields aren't level but can be more level with universal basic income

in #basicincome7 years ago (edited)

"And, we should stop talking about UBI, as to how it would benefit the world, we should start talking about providing minimum housing, food and clothing to all people.

And then discuss if UBI is one of the best ways to provide that."

In the context of slavery/freedom, we shouldn't focus so much on this whole 'taking care of people' thing and focus on UBI being an important first step to provide access to economic opportunity, to the Land, to all the people, so they can put it to some good use as they see fit. That is central to sense of agency, to sense of freedom, to recognizing importance of acting responsible. I mean who'd care to act responsible if at no point, having responsibility? E.g. if everyone is "provided for"?

Everyone having this income that is worth something in a good amount of Land access, in economic opportunity, would probably indirectly lead the overwhelming majority of people having food and shelter, the people who today are increasingly threatened to not have those things due to systematically losing access to the land by the fact that our currency system requires self-indebting to people who you owe nothing, if you want to access the land.

With the universal income, people are made free to exactly not provide their work to each other. That's what the UBI affords us, to refuse to provide work that is not perceived fair (or meaningful) to provide. If you think someone's gotta work for you, make a point about it in the immediate circumstance that would also work on an economically similarly empowered being like yourself. I think that's what the free market is supposed to be about.

The ability to say no, the ability to command Land, these are differences between a slave and a sovereign. Between one who holds responsibility and one who is made to act regardless of his (potential) concepts of what needs to or needs to not be done.

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Sorry, I am not following you. It sounds like you agree with me, but still would prefer UBI, because it gives you money you can choose where to spend.

As a builder of houses, would it be easier/cheaper for me to build you a tiny house over a couple of weekends or pay $400 to you every month so that you could rent a room for the rest of your life?

As the person who needs a place to live, do you prefer the tiny house or the room that you rent? Does either provide better shelter?

The ability to say, "take this job and shove it" is the same as your ability to feed, cloth and house yourself for the near future. Whether it is UBI, or to have those things directly provided is pretty much irrelevant.

So, what reasons do you have that you prefer UBI over the basic needs?

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