Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

Universal Basic Income - An Idea Whose Time Has Come

https://www.ideapod.com/idea/Universal-Basic-Income-An-Idea-Whose-Time-Has-Come/57991c15165eb82c120529d1

What do you think of the idea of a universal basic income? In short, it results in every citizen being paid a basic income - for nothing.

It would eliminate poverty immediately as well as the need for welfare. It would be above the minimum wage so people can live well and would be low enough that people are still incentivised to work and productively create.

'The idea, which has been advocated in the past by no less than former US president Richard Nixon, economist Milton Friedman and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, has been gaining momentum recently.' - http://www.smh.com.au/money/should-we-pay-everyone-a-universal-basic-income-20160606-gpcmba.html

I believe this is one of the most important ideas going around. When in Australia recently, I vowed to do what I can to help Australia transition to this system during my lifetime. Australia is large and important enough that this would serve as a constructive and inspiring example to other countries.

RELATE

A Discussion With Scott Santens about Universal Basic Income and an Ideas Currency

I enjoyed this facebook live on Ideapod's facebok page with Scott Santens, a writer and advocate for the universal basic income.

https://www.facebook.com/ideapods/videos/1068071046620463/

In the discussion we spoke about what a universal basic income is, some of the objections to it, whether it can be implemented in the USA and how important it is with the emergence of artificial intelligence and robotics.

I also took the chance to share some of Ideapod's plans around building an ideas currency at the end of the video.

Let me know your reactions to the discussion and what you think of Ideapod's plans.

https://www.ideapod.com/idea/How-Can-The-Global-Elite-Embrace-The-Perspective-Of-Others-In-Developing-A-New-World-View/57759a97165eb82c12020b2d