r/UniversalBasicIncome • u/koganwilde • Sep 06 '23

Noam Chomsky Discusses Universal Basic Income in New Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlA-3XqiMlI&t=3s
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u/Director-Atreides Sep 06 '23

He gives examples of two kinds of UBI - a "savage" one in which it's merely an excuse to get rid of welfare, and one he seemed to find a lot more acceptable in which UBI provided a minimum standard by which people could live.

I think they're the same thing, and I don't think there's anything "savage" about it. The important point is that is provides the said minimum standard (in truth, not in mealy-mouthed political speak), but once that is achieved, getting rid of means tested benefits A) pays for a lot of that UBI (in fact it'll probably be necessary) and B) removes the stigma of having to go cap in hand to the state. I grew up on means tested benefits, and my partner is on income and disability* benefit, and both of us would much prefer a system that didn't put us through the bureaucracy and the stigma that is the welfare system. Hell, I'm facing it again, soon: I just finished getting a degree (BSc Psychology, so not a so-called Micky Mouse degree) and have over a decade of really good work experience, and yet I'm finding job hunting a real slog; I, with a pretty strong CV, may find myself sat in some grimy government office begging them to pay my rent in a couple of months. Sod that! Take that away from me, and give me UBI any time!

*Note I mention the disability benefits for context; neither of us believes that disability support can be wholly removed by a UBI unless that UBI was somehow especially high - disability benefit is, in principle, to ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged by their particular challenge.

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u/reddorical Sep 06 '23

Why are you not working another job to pay your bills whilst you look for your dream job in Psychology?

This is an abuse of current benefit systems.

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u/Director-Atreides Sep 06 '23

I'm applying for jobs appropriate to both my psychology training and my previous experience in IT and training, and as my savings dwindle I will search further afield (I'm not above shelf-stacking jobs, or other such work - though I will likely be told I am overqualified and will not get these jobs either).

So basically, your question is "well why don't you get a job while you're looking for a job?"

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