The Big Ideas Project

Merged Idea

An Unconditional Basic Income Guarantee (UBI) for every U.S. citizen over 18 of $1,000 per month and every citizen under 18 of $300 per month, to be paid for through consolidation of present in-kind benefits better met by cash, and through the closing of loopholes, elimination of subsidies, and increase in top tax rates.

Submitted by Scott Santens, Moderator of /r/basicincome on Reddit and Founder of The BIG Patreon Creator Pledge in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 6:07 p.m.

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#83

2617 votes

A guaranteed income for all. This would reduce or eliminate the "welfare" system and allow freedom, autonomy and artistic endeavors, reducing our insane dependence on scrambling for money enough to live. It would create a renaissance of creativity and happiness. Those who value money and material wealth could continue their game. Those who have other values could pursue those.

Submitted by Sheila S. from CA in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 2:30 p.m.

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⇧ Merged

Introduce a Citizens Dividend that is paid monthly to all US citizens regardless of their status with no means testing that is sufficient for basic necessities of life. Pay for the benefit by eliminating inefficient means-tested welfare and increasing progressive taxes on those who profit most from the labors and structures of the people of the US. Unleash the passion and creativity of the American people to usher a new age of innovation, community and well being with a Citizens Dividend.

Submitted by Phil in Society & Community Dec. 10, 2014, 12:28 p.m.

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Every citizen who is not a millionaire received a federal check for $3,000 every month. This becomes the guaranteed minimum income for the USA. Pay for it with a tariff on imported goods from low wage countries.

Submitted by vincardog in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 3:26 p.m.

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Implement a Guaranteed Livable Income! This GLI would reduce the size of government and also eliminate poverty! If the US had Billions$ to bailout banks and insurance companies, then certainly the US can afford to fund a GLI. Time to Eliminate Poverty once and for all.

Submitted by Victor Lau - Leader, Green Party of Saskatchewan in Economy & Jobs Dec. 10, 2014, 11:33 p.m.

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Provide an unconditional basic income to address wealth inequality and precarious employment due to the rapid advancement of technological progress. A Basic Income Guarantee (B.I.G.) will replace all prior welfare systems and provide only one unconditional funds transfer to every U.S. Citizen.

Submitted by Erika W. from GA in Economy & Jobs Dec. 11, 2014, 10:01 a.m.

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Consolidate all existing welfare programs into a guaranteed income scheme. All U.S. citizens over 18, who complete at least six (6) months of community or military service, and who earn less than $35,000 per year, are eligible for an unconditional salary of $1,000 per month for life.

Submitted by John Fallot in Economy & Jobs Dec. 15, 2014, 2:06 p.m.

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Basic Income - Basic income guarantees are social security systems that guarantee all citizens regular economic security. Basic income can eliminate costly welfare systems, help victims of domestic violence gain independence, strengthen the labor market while increasing overall wages, and contribute to social cohesion and public safety. Commonomics is dedicated to conducting feasibility studies, PR campaigns, and public roundtables on implementing basic income in the United States.

Submitted by Commonomics in Economy & Jobs Dec. 11, 2014, 7:19 a.m.

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Introduce a Citizens Dividend paid monthly to every US citizen, rich or poor, sufficient for basic necessities of human life. Pay for the benefit by eliminating inefficient means-tested welfare and corporate welfare and progressive taxes on those who profit exponentially from the labors, laws and institutions of the people of the US. End minimum wage slavery. We the people are the heartbeat and sole shareholders of this nation.

Submitted by Phil in Economy & Jobs Dec. 11, 2014, 9:48 a.m.

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Citation: https://medium.com/working-life/why-should-we-support-the-idea-of-an-unconditional-basic-income-8a2680c73dd3

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Scott Santens, Moderator of /r/basicincome on Reddit and Founder of The BIG Patreon Creator Pledge

Why Should We Support the Idea of an Unconditional Basic Income? https://medium.com/working-life/why-should-we-support-the-idea-of-an-unconditional-basic-income-8a2680c73dd3

Dec. 10, 2014, 6:10 p.m.

sdoorex

Thomas Paine was a supporter of UBI through the Citizen's Dividend. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen%27s_dividend

Dec. 11, 2014, 5:42 p.m.

ohpayq

This policy option is fragmented all over the place. Please sync up with http://reddit.com/r/BasicIncome so we can consolidate and coordinate all these efforts! http://thinkbig.us/search/?q=basic+income AND http://thinkbig.us/search/?q=citizens+dividend

Dec. 11, 2014, 6:43 p.m.

Mandala M.

$1,000.00/month is far too low for basic income! It is still poverty!

Jan. 3, 2015, 4:21 a.m.

Kent Pitman

I'm going to vote for this though I don't like the phrase "elimination of subsidies" and would have rather it either enumerated the subsidies or said "some subsidies". In particular, there's a difference between subsidies for new and important technologies (such as solar energy) and subsidies for ultra-lucrative things or even detrimental technologies (like fossil fuel use). There is also a difference between subsidies for food (which you might reasonably want this proposal to replace) and subsidies for housing (which might be expensive enough in some locations that this proposal doesn't help) and education (which is definitely expensive enough that this proposal doesn't help).

Jan. 10, 2015, 12:37 p.m.

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