Scott SantensApr 4, 2024
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.
Show threadrastilinApr 4, 2024

@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.

Show threadGeofCoxApr 4, 2024

@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.

Show threadAdrian Riskin Apr 4, 2024
@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.
Show threadBjorn Toft Madsen
@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.
Apr 4, 2024 at 6:31pmWeb