UBI, or universal basic income, is a form of direct cash assistance to help the most vulnerable get back on their feet. A new study in Denver suggests it works.
  • Psaldorn@lemmy.worldEnglish
    153·
    1 year ago

    The sad truth is current capitalism would ruin it.

    If you have a whole city UBI then rent and prices would immediately inflate to siphon that away.

    You’d need robust price laws beforehand, and that’s unpopular. Otherwise it’s just a tax-to-overlords pipeline

    • underisk@lemmy.mlEnglish
      161·
      1 year ago

      Funny how capitalism seems to always stand in the way of doing anything objectively good. I guess the homeless will just have to hold on until we figure out how to do welfare in a capitalist economy.

    • jarfil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      81·
      1 year ago

      Sure, prices inflate… and the guy who had $0 to buy nothing at the cheaper prices, still has $1000 to buy something at inflated prices.

      • Goblin_Mode@ttrpg.networkEnglish
        3·
        1 year ago

        I think the problem here is that the guy who can now afford a non zero number of things is counterbalance by the person who is just outside of the threshold for receiving the $1000 stipend. The person who previously could afford very few things that is now able to afford even less. It averages everyone out which is good for those who have nothing it is a horrible slap in the face to people who are only slightly better off

        • jarfil@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          1 year ago

          the person who is just outside of the threshold

          “Universal” means for everyone, no threshold. If there is a threshold, that’s a subsidy, not a UBI.

          To keep content the likes of “I earn my money, so fuck those who don’t”, some subsidies complete people’s income “up to” some amount, like up to $1000/month. Guess it’s a slap to the face of those working to earn $1050… and maybe they deserve it, for not negotiating a better pay.

        • thatsTheCatch@lemmy.nzEnglish
          6·
          1 year ago

          The idea behind a UBI is that it’s given to everyone (Universal), not just the poorest. So this wouldn’t be a problem with a true UBI

          EDIT: I notice in the article that it was only given to certain people. In that case it’s not really a UBI, but maybe I’m just getting pedantic about the Universal bit

    • Empricorn@feddit.nlEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, I’m definitely glad we don’t have UBI that’s proven to help a lot of people people because if we did, landlords and corporations would theoretically raise rent. Instead, landlords and corporations are constantly raising rent in excess of inflation and we also don’t have UBI.