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Basic Income is a subject that regularly surfaces in Soylent discussions, so here's a story about Finland's impending experiment with it:
Finland has become the first country in Europe to pay its unemployed citizens a basic monthly income, amounting to 560 euros ($587 US), in a unique social experiment which is hoped to cut government red tape, reduce poverty and boost employment.
Olli Kangas from the Finnish government agency KELA, which is responsible for the country's social benefits, said Monday that the two-year trial with the 2,000 randomly picked citizens who receive unemployment benefits kicked off Jan. 1.
Those chosen will receive 560 euros every month, with no reporting requirements on how they spend it. The amount will be deducted from any benefits they already receive.
The average private sector income in Finland is 3,500 euros per month, according to official data.
Also at The Guardian and swissinfo.ch.
(Score: 3, Informative) by tibman on Wednesday January 04 2017, @08:15PM
Pretty sure that's how "food stamps" work. It's just a credit card that can only buy certain goods like groceries and plastic forks.
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(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday January 04 2017, @08:48PM
Yes, it sounds a lot like SNAP, doesn't it? :) Which was kind of my hidden point: what we need to do is make the current programs work and expand them to all, not try this ill-thought-out idea of "here's a bunch of money, do what you will with it."
Social programs more than make up for their dollar costs, and that's not even counting the, ahem, *externalities* they prevent. This is something our resident right-wingers either don't or won't understand: they are, among other things, guillotine insurance. All of J-Mo's not-stolen-from-him money will do him less than no good when he's sucking hellfire with three dozen bullet holes in him due to getting snippy on the breadline...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 04 2017, @09:00PM
I disagree, the conditional support programs incur a lot of overhead costs and limit people's freedom to make their own life choices. Creating support programs to help people manage their money would be a good idea, but I've heard enough stories about food stamps and the like to know they have lots of problems. UBI would let people live their own lives without a huge bureaucracy to make sure they are living their lives "properly".
Down that road lies the authoritarian dystopian future all the conservatives keep crying about. How long before a conservative government ties UBI to mandatory labor? Hooray a new slave class that will effectively give some businesses zero labor costs.
No, the future is UBI along with socialized healthcare and education. Let humans live their lives, and provide the masses with the basics so they can become better citizens. Some controls will probably be needed, but I foresee more of an IRS auditor role to make sure people aren't claiming dead relatives UBI etc. Much else will cost more and open the door for abuse.
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday January 04 2017, @10:35PM
I hope so, Anon, and that's what I want to see. Keep your fingers crossed...
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...