Socialist

Nightmare!

CHICAGO MAY BECOME LARGEST CITY IN U.S. TO TRY UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

The UBI is based on a simple premise: People don’t have enough money to provide for their essential needs, so why not just give them more? UBI schemes entail giving a standard cash grant to everyone — regardless of need. 

Traditionally, the United States has addressed poverty by delivering in-kind goods. For instance, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the food stamp program, issues electronic cards that can be used to purchase certain types of food. But some economists have countered that simply giving people money is more beneficial. Research shows that cash transfer programs are more efficient overall, as they sidestep the administrative costs of distributing in-kind goods. The theory is that people know their own needs and can allocate money more effectively than the government. 

Moreover, the hope is that because UBI is a universal initiative, it will avoid some of the stigma associated with need-based programs, which have historically been criticized as handouts to the “undeserving” poor.

DYI:  Here we go again; nothing was said in the article about where the money was going to come from!**  I suppose it will be penny’s from heaven or is it simply a matter that there is no such thing as free money as it must be provided from the other citizens of Chicago through taxation.  Chicago leaders over the decades have systematically taxed businesses and high income earners to the point that they as well are systematically leaving Chicago – along with relocating their businesses – to more favorable tax and business regulated cities and States.  Add this folly onto all of the heavy taxes and regulation the productive segment of Chicago society pays they will leave in proportion to its growing tyrannical government.

**Nothing was stated in the specific nor in general as to how Chicago will fund this new program, if this proposed legislation is enacted.  The Intercept only stated a one sentence negative comment: 

 “Matt Bruenig, the founder of the People’s Policy Project and a UBI advocate, is skeptical that a municipality can run a successful UBI because cities tend to have limited capacity to collect revenue.”

 DYI