The narrative around Universal Basic Income often gets twisted into a saga of laziness. But here's food for thought: UBI will be the most significant productivity booster we've yet to embrace. Freed from survival stress, innovation and creativity will flourish like never before.

@scottsantens

Absolutely. There's loads of people trapped in bad situations because they simply can't leave, it would cost money that they can't risk.

@rastilin @scottsantens

There's a long history of business and land owners opposing anything that might strengthen the hand of wage-labourers in negotiations or strikes - even fairly marginal things like workers growing their own food in allotments or gardens - this was a real struggle in the early history of Joseph Arch's agricultural labourers' union.

Whatever its advantages to society as a whole, UBI will be fiercely opposed by most employers for this reason - the last thing they want is workers who feel empowered to walk away from exploitative jobs.

@GeofCox @rastilin @scottsantens This is a key point. UBI would likely have all kinds of benefits, but it doesn't generally benefit the people who have the power to implement it.
@AdrianRiskin @GeofCox @rastilin @scottsantens In the long term it will benefit everyone. Stretch the disparity between the haves and the have nots too far and guillotines eventually get erected in the town square.