I've always thought that this would have some interesting effects on society.
Sure, there are some people who would be content with basic subsistence. Some of those people might turn to crime to get their jollies. I'm not sure there is any social system that can prevent this.
A guaranteed income that paid a basic subsistence would drive up the cost of goods. Some of that would be because people at the lowest end of the wage scale can now be picky about their working conditions, driving up the cost of delivering goods and services, and generally improving working conditions. Employers would have to make mundane, dirty, low-skill work a more palatable proposition. Garbage men's wages would increase. Some of it would be because of opportunistic business practices seeking to maximize profit from goods and services and especially off of the people at the bottom. An equilibrium could be reached, but prices for goods and services wouldn't look like the do now.
Why some action is necessary:
Whether you like the Basic Income or not, something has to change. Technology, especially automation, is currently and will continue to displace low-skilled labor. At some point it will also begin to eat some skilled labor. And why shouldn't it? I can't blame industry for automating labor away. I also can't blame them for the effect that will have on the displaced labor; but, it will have a terrible effect if nothing is done. Nobody can expect those people to starve themselves. This is actually a great opportunity for humanity; if this 'surplus' labor can be directed toward further advancing society (in a positive way).
What are the alternatives?
A fragmentation of society into: Aristocracy, Worker Class, and a Loafer Class. I doubt this would be stable without an oppressive authoritarian State.
Sure, there are some people who would be content with basic subsistence. Some of those people might turn to crime to get their jollies. I'm not sure there is any social system that can prevent this.
A guaranteed income that paid a basic subsistence would drive up the cost of goods. Some of that would be because people at the lowest end of the wage scale can now be picky about their working conditions, driving up the cost of delivering goods and services, and generally improving working conditions. Employers would have to make mundane, dirty, low-skill work a more palatable proposition. Garbage men's wages would increase. Some of it would be because of opportunistic business practices seeking to maximize profit from goods and services and especially off of the people at the bottom. An equilibrium could be reached, but prices for goods and services wouldn't look like the do now.
Why some action is necessary:
Whether you like the Basic Income or not, something has to change. Technology, especially automation, is currently and will continue to displace low-skilled labor. At some point it will also begin to eat some skilled labor. And why shouldn't it? I can't blame industry for automating labor away. I also can't blame them for the effect that will have on the displaced labor; but, it will have a terrible effect if nothing is done. Nobody can expect those people to starve themselves. This is actually a great opportunity for humanity; if this 'surplus' labor can be directed toward further advancing society (in a positive way).
What are the alternatives?
A fragmentation of society into: Aristocracy, Worker Class, and a Loafer Class. I doubt this would be stable without an oppressive authoritarian State.
Something else?