SendMePicsOfCat t1_j2768w3 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 3:23 AM

Reply to comment by Guns_and_glory99 in How are we feeling about a possible UBI? by theshadowturtle

Yeah the issue isn't UBI though, it's the economy that requires human labor. The whole point is that UBI gets implemented at an equivalent rate at which labor is eliminated from the economy.

Guns_and_glory99 t1_j29gb27 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 4:45 PM

That’s short term thinking. You are overlooking entrepreneurship and potential for exponential income/wealth growth. For example, the guy flipping burgers, promoted to manager, becomes Francisee, ends up owning 50 stores. With UBI, he would be stuck at pay rate of flipping burgers when replaced by robot with no chance for upward mobility.

UBI isn’t the answer. Society adapts. We transitioned from agrarian to services industry without any radical UBI type policies. UBI eliminates incentives to improve and innovate, that is why it has always failed in every country tried, and will continue to fail.

Think more creatively than the limited cudgel of UBI.

SendMePicsOfCat t1_j29h494 wrote on December 30, 2022 at 4:50 PM

Ironic you would call my idea short term. There will be no need for a manager, burger flipper, customer service, or any humans at all for a burger joint in a decade or two. What will the countless people put out of work do? With no skills or capability to advance to the highest levels of work? With extremely limited opportunities remaining? All labor will be automated in time, then what will you do?

Guns_and_glory99 t1_j29hnbl wrote on December 30, 2022 at 4:54 PM

So then go full Star Trek where there is no income because everything you want is free. UBI is short-term thinking as it literally says, I’ll replace your current income from a productive job helping society, to a non-productive role in society where I just give you money.

That overlooks the deep societal and human benefits of self worth and purpose and productivity that comes from all ‘jobs’.