(January 6, 2024 at 7:25 am)Belacqua Wrote:(January 6, 2024 at 4:58 am)neil Wrote: What is your position on implementing something like a Universal Basic Income (UBI)?
A lot of times when people talk about UBI, it has to do with preventing serious poverty, homelessness, etc.
We ought to keep in mind, too, that it could bring about an unprecedented flourishing of the arts.
I read an article recently about classical musicians, including composers, and how the current system basically makes it impossible for most people who want to pursue this seriously. Very few make it to union symphony jobs, and even these are not completely secure. The rest do gig work for very little money, or teach if they're lucky. But it's precarious for all but a very few, and those who can live on it are almost always those who come from privileged backgrounds -- they grew up with the money and connections to get the best training and introductions.
Just think of all the talent there is out there, wasting away because the person had to get a non-music job to survive. If they all had UBI, groups and orchestras could be formed based on musical values alone.
Likewise the visual arts. Painting takes a hell of a lot of time. You can't sell insurance all day and then go home and do your best work.
This is one of the main reasons I moved to Japan many years ago. If I lived in the US, I'd have to get a job simply to get reasonable health insurance -- though even those aren't as good as the government plan I have here.
When people talk about UBI, they should also keep in mind that if it isn't implemented in a mathematically, economically, and logically sound way, it could cause an increase in serious poverty, homelessness, etc. It could also have a counteractive effect on the flourishing of the arts.
I think a sound implementation of UBI could also lead to a reduction in crime along with a financial reduction for society in overhead to deal with crime.
