by Karl Widerquist | Jun 12, 2014 | Research
SUMMARY: The author argues, “I think that no-strings-attached money is a dangerously bad idea and that it would do far more to undermine poverty-fighting efforts than it would to strengthen them. I also think that meddlesome caseworkers are the unsung heroes of the fight against poverty. … New York City is on the cusp of a grand experiment to increase the flow of no-strings-attached money to its poor citizens. This will end badly. … There is far more to say about how we can fix America’s social welfare programs. But before we can expand them or shrink them or modernize them, we must first ensure that they rest on a solid moral foundation. And that, ultimately, is what work requirements are all about.”
Reihan Salam, writes for Slate and the National Review. He is the co-author, with Ross Douthat, of Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream.
Reihan Salam, “Unconditional basic income? You’re kidding: Slate opinion,” The Oregonian, June 5, 2014.
New York City's new mayor, Bill de Blasiot via the Oregonian. His team has "announced their intention to ease the enforcement of work requirements. They will no longer require that food-stamp applicants provide proof of their housing expenses, nor will they ask able-bodied adults without children to look for work in exchange for food stamps."
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 9, 2014 | News
[Karl Widerquist]
Bernie Sanders, the only socialist in the United States Senate, evaded a question about BIG. The question came up during an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the popular website, Reddit. During an AMA, a prominent person agrees to be available online for a given period time to and to answer whatever questions Reddit members ask. Although Sanders is known as one of the strongest defenders of the poor in high-level U.S. politics, he would not give a direct answer to the following question asked by Reddit member using the name, LoveAllHarmNone, “What do you think of a Basic Income Guarantee if/when unemployment rises due to automation?”
Bernie Sanders -Wikipedia
Sanders replied, “I think that as a nation we should be deeply troubled by the fact that we have more people living in poverty today than ever before and that millions of seniors are finding it difficult to survive on about $1,200 a month from Social Security. I think we need to take a very hard look at why real income has gone down for millions of Americans despite a huge increase in productivity. In my view, every American is entitled to at least a minimum standard of living. There are different ways to get to that goal, but that’s the goal that we should strive to reach.”
Although some of the comments in the thread expressed frustration at the lack of clarity in the answer, there was no follow up by Sanders.
The entire AMA is online at: https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/24zdnn/i_am_senator_bernie_sanders_ivt_ama/
by Karl Widerquist | Jun 7, 2014 | Research
This article shows that an Indian Tribe’s introduction of a policy along the lines of a Basic Income Guarantee reduced the incidence of mental illness in children.
E. Jane Costello, Scott N. Compton, Gordon Keeler, and Adrian Angold, “Relationships Between Poverty and Psychopathology: A Natural Experiment.” JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003: Volume 290, No. 15, pages 2023-2029.
by Josh Martin | Jun 2, 2014 | News
[Josh Martin]
A new political party, named the After Party, has declared its support for a basic income guarantee in the United States. Founded in May of this year, the party hopes to push its candidates into positions at every level of government.
For more on the After Party see the following links:
“Alliance of Activists to Launch New Populist Political Party in Detroit.” Occupy Wall St. 30 April 2014.
After Party Official Website
After Party logo (From https://occupywallst.org/article/afterparty-populist-party-future/)
by Harry Pitts | May 27, 2014 | Research
Kathleen Ortega and Kenn Burrows, “Targeting Poverty with a Universal Basic Income”, Project Censored, 2nd April 2014.
Project Censored
