Scott Santens

Trump admin hits back at ex-California mayor's call for federal guaranteed income as cities hand out cash Michael D. Tubbs, founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, advocated for federal cash assistance while Trump administration opposes such initiatives as unnecessary handouts.

"The Trump administration punched back at the founder of the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income organization, saying that Democratic mayors should prioritize other issues within their cities instead of issuing handouts."

Basic income isn't a handout, and the GBI pilots often show increased employment.

3.2.3 Mental health One of the perceived effects with the strongest consensus in our qualitative dataset was the reduction in stress and anxiety owing to financial security provided by the basic income, and an associated confidence and control over one’s life. For example, one participant noted “It helps with mental health because you're not worrying about, oh, can I do this?” (YP52 - End of Pilot). At mid-pilot and end of pilot other participants explained how the income alleviated financial worries in the context of other difficulties, such as homelessness or experience of abuse: ‘I don't really have a fixed abode, so... I know I can get food in if I need it, and I know I can buy this if I need it, and if I need clothes, ... It's a lot nicer. It really helps with mental health in particular.’ (YP2 - Mid-Pilot) ‘...when you're in care, you've got no freedom. I had no freedom. I was being just abused by my carers and stuff like that. ... but when I was given the pilot, it felt like I could just go anywhere, do whatever I wanted to do, and since I suffered with bad mental health at the time and I still do, it kind of helped me go about my health journey as well...’ (YP56 - End of Pilot) At this follow-up point, participants could compare life on the pilot with life after the end and drew stark contrasts in what they were able to do and the associated effects on their mental wellbeing. For example, one young person who felt their social anxiety was alleviated while on the pilot told us that after it finished, they found themselves being “...distant from everybody, I don't really talk to a lot of people. I stick around the people that I… like I know...” (YP12 - End of Pilot). For some participants, the extent of this contrast became most clear after the payments stopped, and they had to adjust to being on a significantly lower, conditionally provided form of financial assistance or income:

Here's another—this time from the mental health section:

"One of the perceived effects with the strongest consensus in our qualitative dataset was the reduction in stress and anxiety owing to financial security provided by the basic income, and an associated confidence and control over one’s life."

From the recently released evaluation report of the Basic Income for Care Leavers pilot in Wales

www.gov.wales/sites/defaul...

3.2.2 Autonomy and Control An enhanced sense of autonomy, control and financial freedom was one of the most consistently reported findings from our interviews. Participants described how the cash helped them navigate specific challenges – primarily through enhanced financial security and material resources, and the power to make their own decisions. One participant, for example, said it gave them “Peace of mind for when I’m alone that I’ve got that money saved up as a little safety net” (YP39 - End of Pilot). Another told us how it gave them freedom through driving: ‘When I passed my driving test, which obviously the pilot allowed me to, you know, without that money I wouldn't have been able to, you know, do driving lessons and then the test and everything, and, you know, get my first car, yeah, it just allowed… it gave me so much more freedom to go out and meet people, and meeting people obviously got me out of the house.’ (YP62 - End of Pilot) The sentiment around increased freedom was widespread. For example, other participants framed it as “...unlock[ing] more opportunities and freedom” (YP68 - End of Pilot) as well as preparing them for emergencies (YP69 - End of Pilot). This contrasts with the feeling of options being limited either before or after the pilot: ‘Before the money, I felt very restricted in what I could do. And during the money, the time I was getting the money, I felt like I was able to do what I wanted and live my life the way I wanted, which made me feel good... It definitely opened my eyes to the fact that I was a lot more competent than I thought I was.’ (YP46 - End of Pilot) The contrast in financial freedom during and after the pilot was illustrated through relatively small, everyday events. During the pilot examples included being able to afford a hotel room when away from home, taking trains and taxis to places, or being able to pay their share of a restaurant bill. In contrast, examples of financial limitations after the pilot ended...

"When I passed my driving test, which the pilot allowed me to, without that money I wouldn't have been able to do driving lessons and then the test and everything, and get my first car… it gave me so much more freedom to go out and meet people, and meeting people obviously got me out of the house."

I'm aware of that too. I follow it all pretty closely.

That is correct. The education part is like 5% to 8% of that grouping.

You will find multiple studies about that pilot in my thread. Yes, I am very much aware of it.

Looks like @wbmosler.bsky.social is running to be governor of the Virgin Islands on a universal dividend platform with a voting requirement. Fascinating.

More: viconsortium.com/vi-politics/...

So your assumption is that no one provided with $1,400 a month to not live in poverty would never want more money to buy anything other than food and a really shitty apartment?

When Covid hit do you think the government raised taxes or borrowed money from the rich before spending on Covid stimulus?

Which is why we need to fight for it.

Yes. But tax them way more. They'd spend billions more to receive $15k or whatever the amount is. It's wasteful administratively to exclude them and would only lead to worse errors.

Exactly

If the right person got in his ear and told him to call it Trump Bucks, and how it would greatly increase his popularity, then yeah, it's possible. He'd do anything if it fed his narcissism.

"UBI is not a ceiling that holds us down. It is a floor. And when you give human beings a solid floor to stand on, they don’t lie down.

They reach for the stars."

You would get basic income whether you need it or not. That's the point of it. It's always there for everyone. It's a floor.

Negative Income Tax is Not Cheaper Than Universal Basic Income, Nor is Guaranteed Income 'More Progressive' by Excluding the Rich Many people don't know this, but Milton Friedman was once asked in the Spring of 2000 what he thought about a universal basic income (UBI) in comparison to his proposed negative income tax (NIT) and t...

A NIT always involves a phaseout tax on those in the phaseout range, whereas a UBI can spread that tax all the way to the very top, enabling a lower MTR on those at the bottom and middle. The argument for preferring NIT is political, not economic, IMO. I prefer UBI and just using taxes on back end.

Please DM me. 👍

I don't think AI is going to replace all jobs, but if it DID, we would need Universal Basic Income immediately.

As it stands, heavy wealth taxation + UBI is still the best (non-communist) solution for an economy that is increasing in efficiencies while bleeding middle-class consumers who buy stuff.

Any amount of UBI increases the odds of a higher UBI, because of how empowering it is and how much it enables civic engagement and action.

Right because they should get UBI too. Everyone should get UBI. It's something to fight for, not fear. It's a floor. A foundation. A dividend. It's not the only income there is. It's starting income. And of course jobs for humans will still exist. People can always express demand for that with UBI.

Not everyone needs to be replaced by AI for UBI to work. Not sure where you are confused, but maybe start here?

Even if AI has nothing to do with most of this trend and is more about Trump taking over and destroying everything, the fact remains that it truly is becoming harder for people to find employment (especially entry level workers) and without UBI + M4A, our safety net is not prepared for any AI impact

Correlation does not imply causation, but this is factual:

The 200-Year Experiment: How a 'Privileged' Basic Income in Brazil Proves We Can Afford to Be Universal From $500 to $15,000 a Month: How Decades of Data Prove That an Unconditional Basic Income Guarantee Fuels Ambition Instead of Laziness What if I told you that the Portuguese Empire accidentally ra...

That simply is not true. You may have read something meant to misinform you. Here is what the data actually says.

www.scottsantens.com/the-200-year...

When we leave them no choice.

Universal basic income and healthcare should have both been implemented decades ago, but the second best time is right this goddamn instant.

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social This will be a test re: whether the U.S. population knows who to be mad at. Kyle Griffin @@kylegriffin1.bsky.social WASHINGTON (AP) - Employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs last month and unemployment edges up to 4.4% with labor market under pressure.

This is a really good point. Be outraged about stupid wars to cover up Epstein, but don’t lose sight of what else is happening. Your rights are still evaporating and your jobs are being eliminated for AI worship.

Tax the rich and provide UBI and healthcare.

There is legislation in Congress that would create a universal basic income in the United States. The BOOST Act, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, would give $250/mo. to every working-age American. It is funded by a 2.5% tax on income above $30k for single filers and $60k for joint filers. Single filers earning < $150k and joint filers earning < 180k would see a net benefit.

Spoke with Attleboro Democrats about the need to address economic insecurities due to AI-related job displacement, including the need for Medicare-for-all, Universal Basic Income, and strengthening collective bargaining rights.

Here’s my angry political rant for day: tax billionaires out of being billionaires, abolish ICE and DHS, and slash military spending—put that money into Healthcare for all, free higher education, and and UBI.

Private sector vs public sector.