I definitely need to research this topic more, but after reading everyone's arguments for and against UBI, I think maybe the right solution is somewhere right in the middle.
Instead of giving everyone $X,000 a month, what if there was some sort of secondary currency or credits that all Americans receive (call them Patriot bucks or whatever) that could be used for necessities like food, public transportation, etc.
I don't think the currency should be used for housing costs, but I could maybe be persuaded otherwise. Ideally though, by having the necessities covered, it would free up income earned through working to cover rent, and thus working would still be encouraged.
This seems like something that's easily doable and doesn't solve poverty completely (there are still other costs like health care), but this would help a lot of people and be a step toward UBI in the future maybe.
I hear you, it's just such a difficult problem. I was just thinking of what the bare minimum is we could do to ensure no one is really living without basic necessities, until the point where our political climate makes it actually feasible to blindly give everyone X,000 a month.
I'm sure there are issues with welfare coupons, but being able to go into a grocery store and buy items you need without having to apply for anything has to be an improvement. Like I said though I need to research more so I could be wrong.
Why charge for public transport at all? Issuing everyone credits they can use to buy rides seems like a way to funnel money to big consultancies.
Similarly for housing; offering very basic housing to anyone who wants to live in it solves 80% of homelessness (the last 20% is harder than you would think).
Food is harder, but something akin to a soup kitchen can still help a lot.
Transportation I could see, but for other things like food I just like the idea of making people choose how they want to spend their credits, if for no other reason than to remind them that scarcity still exists.
Having a grocery store with a "take what you want" policy feels like it won't last long
If it was effectively a soup kitchen, it would be hard for anyone to hoard. They'd be served a single meal, or per family member they'd elected to represent. I don't think they'd be walking out of supermarkets with a trailer of flour packets and racks of lamb.
Honestly I was moreso relating it to my meal plan in college. I didn't have to jump through any hoops to get food, but yes I was limited as to what I could buy. It was far from steak and lobster everyday, but I also didn't starve :)
Instead of giving everyone $X,000 a month, what if there was some sort of secondary currency or credits that all Americans receive (call them Patriot bucks or whatever) that could be used for necessities like food, public transportation, etc.
I don't think the currency should be used for housing costs, but I could maybe be persuaded otherwise. Ideally though, by having the necessities covered, it would free up income earned through working to cover rent, and thus working would still be encouraged.
This seems like something that's easily doable and doesn't solve poverty completely (there are still other costs like health care), but this would help a lot of people and be a step toward UBI in the future maybe.