Basic income versus nations
A basic income is a response to the idea that modern society can no longer provide a viable* job for every member.
As this Great Recession grinds on with no real end in site and very large problems looming the conversation about a basic income has been bubbling up and the structural reasons why we might need one being gone over.
The argument can be simplified to this.
- As we automate production humans stop being required
- We now realise that everything can be automated, not just manufacturing
Then it branches off down two paths
Either,
- for an economy to exist and not collapse it needs consumers, and consumers need income.
or
- We do not really care about the economy, but it would be nice if people could live with a bit of dignity and make our society healthier overall.
So, you get to pick whichever one you find more compelling.
I think the idea of a basic income is great. Probably necessary. But I have no idea how it could be implemented piecemeal around the world without failing horribly.
Countries do not exist in isolation. Would a country with a basic income have to close its borders? Or would it have openish borders but make becoming a citizen incredibly hard? But doing that would would negate the whole point of a basic income in the first place.
It is a great idea that is probably doomed to fail until we have some kind of global governance structure in place.
* A viable job being one that is above subsistence, or plain slavery.