Posted on 07/13/2018 9:08:16 PM PDT by upchuck
Warning: Autostart video
Just 80 miles east of Silicon Valley, one of the wealthiest regions in the country, is Stockton, California — once known as America's foreclosure capital. Soon, the former bankrupt city will become the first in the country to participate in a test of Universal Basic Income, also known as UBI. Stockton will give 100 residents $500 a month for 18 months, no strings attached.
The nontraditional system for distributing wealth guarantees that citizens receive a regular sum of money. The goal is to create an income floor no one will fall beneath.
The concept of Universal Basic Income has gained traction and support from some Silicon Valley leaders, including Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Mark Zuckerberg. It is seen as a way to possibly reduce poverty and safeguard against the job disruption that comes from automation.
"We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure that everyone has a cushion to try new ideas," Zuckerberg said at a Harvard commencement address in May 2017.
The Stockton project has its roots in Silicon Valley, too. Its financial backers include Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes' organization, the Economic Security Project — a fund to support research and cultural engagement around Universal Basic Income. It contributed $1 million to the Stockton initiative.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Time to buy stock in Old Milwaukee, glass pipes, Air Jordans, and Newports....
“He’s doing something that requires great courage, taking money from taxpayers and giving it to losers”
Sounds like the coin is coming from Tech. CEO’s. It’s less than a million dollars, pocket change. The results will be rigged, 100 certainty. These Socialist Techies and their drone Employees / followers will be our undoing if we allow it.
“100%”
Stockton was a nice place? All I remember is smelling the feed lots for miles. It is quite apropos, though: now they can fatten people for slaughter rather than cattle.
$500 for your dignity? Most whores have more self-respect.
I’m curious, let’s assume this idea is deemed successful by the socialists promoting this, and it is instituted state wide. My question is, who is paying for this? (obviously the taxpayer)
I can just see it, John & Jane Smith, both working their buns off to pay for their home and other necessities and paying high taxes to boot. In the meantime, the hippies next door use their 500 dollar “stipend” to pay for their drugs.
The druggies next door are jealous of the Smith’s because they are privileged and the Smith’s are PO’d because they are paying for the drugs.
The left is doing all it can to widen the divide between left and conservative.
Years ago, the company I worked for wanted to build an asphalt plant in Stockton. The city offered city-owned land next to a rail siding. We had a modern, low odor design for truck loadings.
But by the time the state air board, the leftist community lobby and several other groups got done with us, we built the thing in Reno, NV.
We need more attempts like this. I don’t think this one is a good idea, but cities around the country should be trying all sorts of ideas. Let the bad ideas die, the good ideas spread, and when good ideas have been proven across the country they can be considered by DC.
Another example of an idea that needs more testing in cities is giving $500/month for parents to send their kids to the school of their choice.
And I can think of many ways to test changes to medical care - none should be considered in DC until they can be proven in smaller situations (Obamacare showed the stupidity of DC trying to lead without testing/tweaking)
It would be nice if everyone could be honest about this stipend attempt no matter what the results. But there will no doubt be exaggerations on both sides like there are in minimum wage tests (which I disagree with in theory but support at city levels if that’s what they want).
My grand parents lived in Stockton. Both are rolling in their graves.
They never give up.
The city administration is obviously not reading Free Republic. There is a persistent form of insanity going around. It refuses to look reality in the face and accept it. It destroys peoples’ lives based on delusions.
Once again: it is logically impossible to TEST a UNIVERSAL handout to ONE HUNDRED people. For the weak minded, UNIVERSAL means ALL.
Of course, this “test” is going to work. Obviously the lucky recipients are going to declare it a success. Media will show them looking happy, shopping at the super market, eating frozen dinners instead of maruchan noodles, eating hamburger instead of dog food. Papers will be full of stories of fat elated women with 3 kids and full shopping carts. Absolutely no negatives!
The cost, for 100 people, can easily be absorbed by the city budget. The $hit begins when they turn this into a free handout for all. The money will come from those individuals in town foolish enough to work at an honest job, and when that’s gone, from the state.
After a short time, the $500 will be worth nothing, and the recipients will demand $1000, which will soon fade into nothing, prompting them to demand $2000. There is no end to this increase.
I wanna see the city’s balance sheets.... Revenue must come from somewhere.
That’s because you don’t know where to shop.
How many societal parasites will invade this town? Also how far will 500 dollars go if you don’t live in a tent? Won’t pay housing, will it cover your food? What about public showers? Clothing? Looks insufficient to me.
Time to get a PO Box...
Stockton should pay incentives to stable, two parent families. See how this impacts crime in the future.
Couldn’t pay me to live in Stockton.
I imagine. Used to be the definition of a cow town, by the time I left California, it was well on its way to failed exburb.
“What if i just identify as a Stockton resident?”
good enough for me ... i’ll send ‘em an email and ask them to send you a check ...
so 6,000 per year for 300,000 residents = 18 million
They can use the extra 6,000 to pay the higher taxes.
If this goes to all cities...a racket is forming in my mind.....create 20 stipend eligible personas for yourself....apply for all of them...get 10,000 a month...keep a job with your real self...not bad business...
Yep, to be safe. Although I suspect the $500/month will be paid via a debit card similar to food stamps.
A PO Box is a good idea. I have one at a local UPS store. All my mail goes there. Plus, unlike USPS, the UPS Store will accept packages for me and sends me an email when I get one. Cost is about $14/month. Good deal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.