[Josh Martin]
Manzi responds to Zwolinski’s original post at Cato Unbound by attacking the basic income guarantee (BIG) using the randomized experiments from 1968 to 1980 as evidence that a BIG would reduce work hours. Manzi goes on to claim that the best way out of poverty is through work and thus welfare policies that have work requirements are the best way to address welfare. Manzi then turns towards Zwolinski’s idealism. Zwolinski argued for a constitutional amendment that would implement a BIG for each citizen, but Manzi thinks Zwolinski is too optimistic about passing the BIG into law. The democratic process contains many behind-the-scenes changes to bills, so passing a pure BIG seems far-fetched to Manzi.
Jim Manzi, “When the Basic Income Guarantee Meets the Political Process”, Cato Unbound, 8 August 2014.
Cato Unbound is hosting a month-long discussion on "The Basic Income and the Welfare State"
Politics has not solved one social issue let alone, any issue. Politics are not supposed to fix anything and we don’t need to involve politics in this arena. Basic Income is not debatable. It is a necessity. We do not need politicians, economists or financial analysts slimming up the very simple idea of a Basic Income with their noxious rhetoric. Let Basic Income be what it needs to be – an unconditional, tax – free sum paid to every Human Being, paid once per month, 12 times per year. Don’t worry, a proposal like this won’t cost nearly as much as any of the skirmishes this country has spent trillions on. Please, no politicians.