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I support UBI and wealth taxes, but I also think generally that will be a difficult transition in terms of social upheaval. There are so many people I know who

by debo_ 22d ago

I support UBI and wealth taxes, but I also think generally that will be a difficult transition in terms of social upheaval. There are so many people I know who are financially well-off but completely fall apart when there is no visible professional hierarchy to give them meaning. One would hope that this would still go down better than destituting large percentages of the world population, but I wonder.

dfxm12 22d ago
Based in your first two sentences, I think your understanding of UBI is mistaken. You seem to be under the impression that people don't or can't have a job when there is UBI. This is not the case. If you don't believe me, just look at Alaska. Everyone enjoys some sort of benefit, tax break, subsidy, etc. from the government. UBI is the same thing in the form of a regular, universal transfer payment. Nothing more, nothing less.
- debo_ 22d ago
  I do understand UBI. I was referring to the previous context that AI would introduce mass loss of jobs and overall reduced employment, not specifically to UBI being a replacement for jobs.
  - throwaway12053 21d ago
    There are other ways occupy our time. Arts, music, carpentry, gardening, sports, games, care provider and many more.
    - joshheitzman 21d ago
      And self-employment. Lots of people would like to go their own way in business, but don't have the capital to do it long enough (i.e. endure enough failed risks) to be successful.
nextaccountic 22d ago
> I know who are financially well-off but completely fall apart when there is no visible professional hierarchy to give them meaning. This reminds me of white people in the American south that didn't personally own slaves, but fought in the civil war anyway to maintain their place in the social hierarchy https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/67fvaf/comment/dgq8tn2/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/67fvaf/comme... https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/f9j6hg/why_did_commoner_non_slave_owning_southern_whites/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/f9j6hg/why_d...
- psadauskas 22d ago
  And that hasn't changed at all: “If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.” ― Lyndon B. Johnson
  - red-iron-pine 22d ago
    LJB was talking about the grandkids of those civil war types
foobarian 22d ago
Wonder if there should be a "UBI reservation" set up where everyone gets it, and very basic needs like housing and food are taken care of in a self-sustaining manner with machines. (which is the whole premise, everything is automated so nobody needs to work). Then people who don't like the freeloading can opt out and live as usual, and those who like it can move to the reservation.
- anon7725 22d ago
  Perhaps some kind of camp where such people can be concentrated?
- Obscurity4340 22d ago
  Weird and cute how you think you're one of the good, special ones that wont have their value or status affected by whats coming. Im sure you 'll come out on top, thats always what happens for the "industrious"...

by debo_ 22d ago

dfxm12 22d ago

Based in your first two sentences, I think your understanding of UBI is mistaken. You seem to be under the impression that people don't or can't have a job when there is UBI. This is not the case. If you don't believe me, just look at Alaska. Everyone enjoys some sort of benefit, tax break, subsidy, etc. from the government. UBI is the same thing in the form of a regular, universal transfer payment. Nothing more, nothing less.

debo_ 22d ago
I do understand UBI. I was referring to the previous context that AI would introduce mass loss of jobs and overall reduced employment, not specifically to UBI being a replacement for jobs.
- throwaway12053 21d ago
  There are other ways occupy our time. Arts, music, carpentry, gardening, sports, games, care provider and many more.
  - joshheitzman 21d ago
    And self-employment. Lots of people would like to go their own way in business, but don't have the capital to do it long enough (i.e. endure enough failed risks) to be successful.

nextaccountic 22d ago

> I know who are financially well-off but completely fall apart when there is no visible professional hierarchy to give them meaning. This reminds me of white people in the American south that didn't personally own slaves, but fought in the civil war anyway to maintain their place in the social hierarchy https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/67fvaf/comment/dgq8tn2/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/67fvaf/comme... https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/f9j6hg/why_did_commoner_non_slave_owning_southern_whites/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/f9j6hg/why_d...

psadauskas 22d ago
And that hasn't changed at all: “If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.” ― Lyndon B. Johnson
- red-iron-pine 22d ago
  LJB was talking about the grandkids of those civil war types

foobarian 22d ago

Wonder if there should be a "UBI reservation" set up where everyone gets it, and very basic needs like housing and food are taken care of in a self-sustaining manner with machines. (which is the whole premise, everything is automated so nobody needs to work). Then people who don't like the freeloading can opt out and live as usual, and those who like it can move to the reservation.

anon7725 22d ago
Perhaps some kind of camp where such people can be concentrated?
Obscurity4340 22d ago
Weird and cute how you think you're one of the good, special ones that wont have their value or status affected by whats coming. Im sure you 'll come out on top, thats always what happens for the "industrious"...