Universal Basic Income

[SteelCurtain]

Devils advocate: I get to apply for jobs outside my abilities, never accept one and get paid. I have to take a job that I don't like, quit/get fired, and get paid. I get to blow the money on vice and the government still has to take care of me (sorry, ponies took it, now feed, house and cloth me). I own a business and you tax me because the business can't pay 5 employees the set wage and I will be taxed, solution, go out of business and get 6 people paid. 

And what of the cost to administer this program? Knowing the government, it will be 50 cents on the dollar. 

Society supports me but I don't need to support society. Very slippery slope.

I think it's worthwhile to restate that I don't think many people think that it should be instituted right now.

But if a massive job deficit occurs where service industry jobs take a massive dive due to automation and technology replacement, and there is a spike in unemployment, how will your small business survive anyhow? And how much will it cost in police spending/welfare/prison management?

Yes, of course there will be takers who will be happy to take---that's true of any entitlement system. I think the slippery slope argument has been debunked many times, though. I also think you underestimate the drive of most people to do better than the minimum. I know I wouldn't just be happy to sit at the poverty line.