Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Fascinating read on reforming the welfare state

Lurch · 07-27-2006, 03:19 PM

Just finished reading this book: In Our Hands: A Plan to Replace the Welfare State

This website http://www.aei.org/publications/filt...pub_detail.asp
presents a brief review.

Anyway, the gist of it is actually quite similar to the original social credit ideal wherein people are given an "citizenship dividend". However, in this case, the dividend replaces the entirety of government services to individuals (health care, welfare, unemployment insurance, etc). Instead, every person is given a guaranteed income stream that is identical for everyone. Basically, the entire government infrastructure around administering these services is given over to the private sector, and people are given enough money to guarantee a minimum standard.

I thought it was actually quite brilliant and fascinating. Obviously not likely in that no government in Canada (or anywhere really) is really interested in minimizing their importance, but it makes a great thought experiment.

07-27-2006, 03:19 PM	#1
Lurch Scoring Winger Join Date: Jan 2004 Exp:	Fascinating read on reforming the welfare state Just finished reading this book: In Our Hands: A Plan to Replace the Welfare State This website http://www.aei.org/publications/filt...pub_detail.asp presents a brief review. Anyway, the gist of it is actually quite similar to the original social credit ideal wherein people are given an "citizenship dividend". However, in this case, the dividend replaces the entirety of government services to individuals (health care, welfare, unemployment insurance, etc). Instead, every person is given a guaranteed income stream that is identical for everyone. Basically, the entire government infrastructure around administering these services is given over to the private sector, and people are given enough money to guarantee a minimum standard. I thought it was actually quite brilliant and fascinating. Obviously not likely in that no government in Canada (or anywhere really) is really interested in minimizing their importance, but it makes a great thought experiment.