Tuesday, July 08, 2014

What I am reading 7/8/2014 - Let's just give everyone free money

Medium - Why Should We Support the Idea of an Unconditional Basic Income?

By guaranteeing everyone has at the very least, the minimum amount of voice with which to speak in the marketplace for basic goods and services, we can make sure that the basics needs of life — those specific and universally important to all goods and services like food and shelter — are being created and distributed more efficiently. It makes no sense to make sure 100% of the population gets exactly the same amount of bread. Some may want more than others, and some may want less. It also doesn’t make sense to only make bread for 70% of the population, thinking that is the true demand for bread, when actually 80% of the population wants it, but 10% have zero means to voice their demand in the market. Bread makers would happily sell more bread and bread eaters would happily buy more bread. It’s a win-win to more accurately determine just the right amount.
And that’s basic income. It’s a win-win for the market and those who comprise the market. It’s a way to improve on capitalism and even democracy, by making sure everyone has the minimum amount of voice.
All this for the low low price tag of $2.98 Trillion and all we have to do is raise taxes -

  • Land Value Tax
  • 40% Flat tax (a claim is made that by combining this with the UBI it would actually be a tax cut for most)
  • 10% Value Added Tax
  • Financial Transaction Tax
  • Carbon Tax
  • Raise the current income tax rates (after all from 1932 to 1982 the top rate was 82%)

The list goes on and on, but what a deal - more taxes and more government intrusion and you get $12,000 a year.  Why combine this with Obamacare and you practically have a utopia.  How could anyone refuse?

NYT - Gingrich’s Correct Prediction About Medicare’s Future

On Oct. 24, 1995, Newt Gingrich made an assertion about what would happen to Medicare if its beneficiaries could choose between it and private plans. Medicare is “going to wither on the vine because we think people are voluntarily going to leave it — voluntarily.” Though he later walked this statement back, many observers viewed it as an attack on the program.
In fact, over the nearly two decades since, Mr. Gingrich’s claim has undergone something of a test — and it has largely passed it.
Boom - Living in a Fool’s Paradise

A look at the current tech /gentrification issues in SF.  Want to take a guess who is to blame?  




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