[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

And this is your entire problem. Your entire premise rests on some bull#### stereotype of what "having a life" means.

A bull#### stereotype? You mean being able to afford to do things with friends, have a home to raise a family, take that family on vacations to expose themselves to different places and cultures, and enrich their lives? That stupid stereotype?

Maybe it's because we brainwash everybody into thinking they're worthless if they don't have a certain type of job, a certain level of income, a certain level of consumption, a certain type of lifestyle, live in a certain type of home, drive a certain type of car, wear a certain type of clothes, etc etc etc.

Hmmm, I think that's your problem and no one else's. I haven't seen anyone else project this into this discussion except you. I don't think many people outside of teenagers considers themselves a piece of #### because they don't drive a particular car or wear certain clothes. If they do, they likely have self esteem or emotional problems. I think people want to have access to a comfortable life. They want to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Anything more is a bonus.

You are contributing to the problem; you just don't realize it.

Really? Do tell. Do tell. Please tell me all the horrible things I have done to contribute to the downfall of our society.

I want to bring the homelessness rate to zero. You want to pick & choose who gets treated with decency and who doesn't. That's the difference.

Talk about building a strawman. Where have I said anything of the sort? I've been arguing for the maintenance of social programs that help people and elevate the weakest in society. Not all people need help, so it is best to shift the money to those in the greatest need rather than cut everyone, including those who don't need the money, a check. It would be wonderful to solve homelessness, but giving homeless people money is not the solution. The are plenty of reasons people are homeless and money isn't always the solution. Mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence are big contributors that money doesn't solve. Again, you take a simplistic view at a very complex issue where there are a number of contributing factors to the underlying problem. A lot of those people need help from other programs that will no longer be available under your UBI system.

For the record, the UBI is not taxed, and people can also earn a certain amount of income from a job before it starts being taxed. In Canada, it's the first (approximately) $12k that you can make from working without paying tax on it.

For the record, UBI doesn't exist, so what you're saying is all conjecture and rules you believe will be in place.

Why would I have leases again? Ohh yeah that's right, I have to drive a car in order to have a life and mobilize upward and be someone, otherwise I'm a worthless POS.

Uhhhhh, you need to have a lease to have an apartment. You know, shelter.

Depending where you live and where where you work, you may need a vehicle, but I would never recommend leasing an automobile. But if that makes you feel like a piece of #### then you can always get a bus pass and use public transportation, if they don't cut public transportation to pay for UBI.

You know what? I'd take you up on your offer. $1667/month tax free for a year, and any money I make from working is mine to keep.

Well, except for the money you'd have to spend to live, but I get your point. It would be interesting to see what "nest egg" you accrued at the end of this year.

My position is and always has been that those with legitimate disabilities receive a higher payment than those who don't.

Have you articulated that anywhere? First I've seen of this commentary. If so, to what extent?

First of all, there is no truly UBI in any of those states.

UBI doesn't exist anywhere.

Second, Trump is working to dismantle the assistance programs in those states, bit by bit, without replacing them with anything.

Yeah, this isn't news. Trump is a real piece of crap and people are hurting because of it. That is the thing, his party wants to do away with social programs that help the less fortunate and replace them with... nothing. They have no interest in replacing social programs with anything, they just want to eliminate them and cut the taxes for the rich.

The brainwashing that Trump supporters have succumb to is deeply worrying. I don't know what the solution is. However, I know that the solution is not to pat them on the back and support their "logic" as they scream "pull yourself up by your bootstraps!"

And who in this thread has suggested that? We need to help the weakest in society. The argument is which is the best way.