BIEN | Opinion
Opinion Posts
Here you will find articles expressing opinions about current issues in the Basic Income debate. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of BIEN.
Punk Band Records a Song with Indepentarian Argument for Basic Income
Indepentarianism exists. The Danish punk band, Husligt Arbejde [House Work] has recorded an indepentarian song, “Borgerløn - the power to say no,” which translates into “Basic Income – the power to say no.” According to Google translate, the band describes its music...
Common Arguments Against Basic Income Don’t apply to the Emergency BI
The Guardian newspaper asked me to write an opinion piece about the Emergency Universal Basic Income (UBI). They changed my headline but otherwise, printed it as I wrote it. America is in crisis. We need universal basic income now. By Karl Widerquist, the Guardian, 20...
Daniel Raventós and Julie Wark: “Covid-19 and the Need, Right Now, For a Universal Basic Income”
The pair Daniel Raventós and Julie Wark have analyzed the corona virus outbreak and consequent economic downturn and call for an immediate implementation of basic income in each country, truly a global response to a global crisis. It can be read, from the onset of the...
CNBC Interview of Karl Widerquist on Emergency Basic Income
Annie Nova, "How the Trump cash infusion would help millions of Americans: Interview with Karl Widerquist." CNBC, Mar 18 2020 Annie Nova, of CNBC, recently interviewed Karl Widerquist to ask about proposals for an Emergency Universal Basic Income during the twin...
Income Movement Endorses Three UBI-Supporting Candidates in Primary Elections on Super Tuesday
Blogger's note: this post is by a guest contributor, Stacey Rutland. The opinions expressed are hers alone. They are not necessarily shared by me or by the Basic Income Earth Network. -Karl Widerquist Super Tuesday is extra super this year! Three incredible...
The Time is Now for the Yang Gang
With Andrew Yang out of the presidential race, the time is now for the Yang Gang to decide whether and how to build on their accomplishments. I think the Yang Gang should take heart for all they've done and realize that they have the power to transform their campaign...
Basic income: Exit strategy or exit trap?
A new article ("Exit strategy or exit trap? Basic income and the ‘power to say no’ in the age of precarious employment") has been published by Simon Birnbaum and Jurgen De Wispelaere, analysing the "power to say no" argument as a support for basic income policies. The...
The Fall and Rise of the Basic Income Movement: My personal reflections after following it for 40 years
Forty years ago today—February 7, 1980—was a small milestone for the Universal Basic Income (UBI) movement: Milton and Rose Friedman dedicated an episode of their television show to a form of basic income guarantee called the Negative Income Tax. This episode might...
Three big misconceptions about Yang’s Freedom Dividend
As US presidential candidate Andrew Yang continues to outperform expectations, his signature policy proposal, the Freedom Dividend or UBI, is receiving increased scrutiny. Some of the criticisms are well warranted, while others are misconceptions based on a flawed understanding of how basic income would operate.
Housing prices are an obstacle to universal income
There is a fear that a disproportionate part of Universal Basic Income would be paid to housing. Under current circumstances, a large portion of the income is paid to rent. A person UK in 2019, if receiving benefits only, in many cases is paying over fifty percent of their income for housing. If UBI was to come into effect, it is possible the same problem would occur.
Was Thomas Paine a Proponent of Universal Basic Income? Short answer: yes.
I was recently asked whether the statement "Thomas Paine was a proponent of Universal Basic Income" is true. Although that statement is slightly controversial, it is true. Let me explain: Universal Basic Income (UBI) is a contested concept. Different people within the...
Thoughts on the British elections and the rise of nationalism
I wasn't planning to write about the British elections until a friend asked. I'm not confident that I'm right about my conclusions, but here are some disjointed thoughts in no particular order. 1. I hate the parallels between US & UK politics: You get...
