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Finland Launches Basic Income Experiment With Jan. 1 Cheques for Those in Pilot Project

posted by on Wednesday January 04 2017, @10:48AM   Printer-friendly
from the now-we-wait-and-watch dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

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.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday January 06 2017, @10:22PM

    by aristarchus (2645) on Friday January 06 2017, @10:22PM (#450482) Journal

    I'd chase that little girl all around the plant . . . .

    So, racist who wants to deport your fellow workers, but still a nice guy. This is the cognitive dissonance that we do not understand. You either are faking the politeness, or you are not serious about your political views. But it seems you are more on the side of pedophilia than anti-semitism? Umm, OK. . . . .

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   2  

  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday January 06 2017, @10:30PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday January 06 2017, @10:30PM (#450484) Journal

    As sweet and beautiful as this little girl is, her parents were law breakers. They USED their children to get a toe in the door. I'll be OK if her parents are deported, and she and her brother are left here. Or, they can choose to leave with their parents. It's not that big a deal. Mexico hasn't been hit with a meteor, and become uninhabitable, since her parents left there.

    Remember - illegal isn't a race. Illegal is illegal though.

    If these Mexicans I work with can accept my point of view, WTF can't you? Were YOUR parents illegals? So, you take it personally?

    Once again, the amendment was aimed at former slaves, and the offspring of former slaves. It was never intended to open the gates for an invading force of 50 million.

    --
    We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.

    • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Friday January 06 2017, @11:04PM

      by aristarchus (2645) on Friday January 06 2017, @11:04PM (#450497) Journal

      You attack any American citizen, you attack them all! Doesn't matter whether you personally think they are legal, or not. You child lecher, you! What makes you even think I am one, though? Nationalism is an artificial and repugnant notion, as both you and the Donald are making abundantly clear. It is a betrayal of the principles of the American and French revolutions, which asserted the Rights of Man (Thomas Paine?), and Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. So why do you hate America?

      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:18AM

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:18AM (#450512) Journal

        Utter horse shit. Pure, utter horse shit.

        Citizenship is conferred via parentage, not by an accident of location at birth.

        "Nationalism is an artificial and repugnant notion"

        THIS is why you are no American. You've rejected the very concept of Americanism. You've rejected the concept of German, French, British, or Chinese citizenship, along with American citizenship. In your view of the world, anyone can come from anywhwere, and demand an equal voice in government. It is you and your kind who betray America.

        Oh - the French revolution? A bit of mass hysteria, really. http://articles.latimes.com/1989-11-24/news/vw-242_1_salem-witch-trials [latimes.com]

        --
        We're gonna be able to vacation in Gaza, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and maybe Minnesota soon. Incredible times.

        • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:31AM

          by aristarchus (2645) on Saturday January 07 2017, @12:31AM (#450516) Journal

          I now have reliable intelligence that shows "Runaway1956" to be a 16-year-old female working in a "fake-news" operation in Macedonia. She has evaded detection for so long because she is almost a perfect facsimile of an older middle-aged redneck hillbilly male from the Southern United States of America. Reports suggest that the "fake-news" operation was in fact set up several years ago by Russian operatives paving the way for Donald Trump to be elected President of the US. Not only a traitor, but not even a real person. Cool story, bro!