[twister881]

>>Compared to the extant social welfare system, the UBI has some pluses.<<

IIRC, Yang has been proposing an either/or deal — stay on existing welfare benefits or take the $1K/mo. The UBI would be funded by a regressive VAT, but no cuts in other taxes. What would happen is the UBI & VAT would be implemented, and welfare recipients allowed to keep both. Last, UBI has been tried in other settings and hasn’t worked; it only has increased indolence. (I don’t count Alaska’s oil bonus, which is a refund of excess taxation.)

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I'm not very familiar with the minutia of Yang's plan. The details do matter (that's where the devil hangs out). In theory, I think a UBI could have a lot of merit. I'm also skeptical about implementation in the real world; so, I agree with your conclusions (both of you).