Mastodawn

"TL;DR: Sequel to "Stay Gold" delivers the receipts—$50M war chest for rural GMI pilots already rolling in 3 counties. Data-obsessed, no-BS philanthropy blueprint. 9.5/10 – pure execution mode, but still waiting for the billionaire dogpile. Atwood's not fucking around." Indeed, I am not. I'm tired of talking. We're going to do it together. https://blog.codinghorror.com/launching-the-rural-guaranteed-minimum-income-initiative/

Launching The Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative

It's been a year since I invited Americans to join us in a pledge to Share the American Dream: 1. Support organizations you feel are effectively helping those most in need across America right now. 2. Within the next five years, also contribute public dedications of time or funds towards

Coding Horror

@codinghorror Amazing initiative! Thank you for doing this!

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@danyork thank you! spread the word, and contribute as you can: https://rgmii.org/help-out/

Help Support Guaranteed Minimum Income • RGMII

Share GMI resources, talk about direct cash transfer programs, and support guaranteed income efforts in your community.

Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative • RGMII

official_verified

@codinghorror 💚

My camera shoots fascists Feb 5

Reading about this makes me so happy. But, it's also infuriating to see what you're doing with an amount of money that would be a three decimal place rounding error for some of the greedy monsters we hear about in the news every day. Poverty really is so solvable.

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@Mikal I lead with the hope that others follow. Especially the ultra-wealthy. If they do, great. If they don't, I'm going to do it anyway and no one can stop me.

@codinghorror I wouldn’t call GMI and “improved” UBI. I think UBI is generally preferable but only if it’s a government program as the government can balance it out with taxation.

GMI works better for a philanthropic project with limited funds.

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@nmn "Universal" UBI means giving money to Elon Musk. Over my dead body, first of all. When a house is on fire, do we spray water over the entire city? No, we don't. We direct the water to the places of most need. That's how all of this should work. "Universal", as a word here, is a massive, derailing discussion from end to end. A giant waste of everyone's time.

@codinghorror I get that thinking but choosing the people adds overhead to the program and opens all kinds of avenues for fraud etc.

In a functioning government that would actually implement UBI, Elon Musk would be taxed appropriately that it would more than cancel out any money he would receive.

I guess GMI could also work as part of tax returns or something to achieve the same goal.

A standard deduction that applies even with zero income where you get a “return”

@codinghorror I think what I’m interested in is how you evaluated who needs the GMI the most.

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@nmn browse this map and you tell me which counties. Then connect me with someone that has $18m and 100% of that will go to GiveDirectly and OpenResearch and we'll gladly do a GMI study in that county, or very close nearby. It'd be my honor. I want to reach all 50 states before I die. And we will. I promise you that. https://rgmii.org/become-a-donor/

Become a Major Donor • Support Rural GMI Studies • RGMII

Support rural county GMI studies by sharing the mission, or major donations that extend or expand to new counties. Help us reach all 50 states!

Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative • RGMII

@codinghorror I’m extremely impressed that someone is actually using their money for good in this country!

And i got my answer in a FAQ:
“Your household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level”

Sounds like a very reasonable eligibility criteria.

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@nmn sounds like you want to look at https://www.givedirectly.org/rural-us/ eg GiveDirectly is in charge of all the program details. And they are AWESOME.

RISE: Cash for Low-Income Americans in Rural Communities | GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly’s Rural Income for Self Empowerment (RISE) program is sending cash to low-income families across rural North Carolina, West Virginia, and Mississippi. Help expand our mission by sharing this program widely to bring more voices into the conversation.

GiveDirectly

BardMoss the Bodhi Linux Guy Feb 6

@codinghorror
This will never fully work until it covers ALL Americans in need. Random selection is simply cruel.

Jeff Atwood Feb 6

@zaivala it's not random. It's specifically directed at people in poverty. Scientific studies is a different topic. If I had billions, believe me, I WOULD USE THEM ALL NOW.

BardMoss the Bodhi Linux Guy Feb 6

@codinghorror
Your article said specifically that there were not sufficient funds for everyone who qualified and people were being selected at random from that pool. That's what I was objecting to.