The funniest thing is it’s the same basic argument as free market Vs planned economy. The individual knows better what they need right now. Why this doesn’t appeal more to the right than it does says a lot about a good chunk of right wing politics.
The current system is akin to a planned economy. You are told what you can spend the money on, and what you can’t. UBI lets the end recipient decide where it’s most useful. E.g. for one person, a car is a worthless expense, while better food makes a big difference. For another, they are ok living on cheaper food for a while, but a replacement car would let them bootstrap themselves upwards, economically.
People like the idea of “working hard” and “earning” something, because there’s “honor” in it or some shit. For whatever reason, the stereotype that the more money or wealth one has, the more hard-working they must be has been very prominent and alive for decades, if not centuries, often perpetuated by those who could benefit from UBI.
Maybe it’s just some coping mechanism for some people, maybe it’s just some capitalist propaganda, maybe it’s just some pride-driven nonsense people spew out to pat themselves on the back; maybe it’s a mix of everything. But it’s just about one’s ego.
The funniest thing is it’s the same basic argument as free market Vs planned economy. The individual knows better what they need right now. Why this doesn’t appeal more to the right than it does says a lot about a good chunk of right wing politics.
The current system is akin to a planned economy. You are told what you can spend the money on, and what you can’t. UBI lets the end recipient decide where it’s most useful. E.g. for one person, a car is a worthless expense, while better food makes a big difference. For another, they are ok living on cheaper food for a while, but a replacement car would let them bootstrap themselves upwards, economically.
People like the idea of “working hard” and “earning” something, because there’s “honor” in it or some shit. For whatever reason, the stereotype that the more money or wealth one has, the more hard-working they must be has been very prominent and alive for decades, if not centuries, often perpetuated by those who could benefit from UBI.
Maybe it’s just some coping mechanism for some people, maybe it’s just some capitalist propaganda, maybe it’s just some pride-driven nonsense people spew out to pat themselves on the back; maybe it’s a mix of everything. But it’s just about one’s ego.