I think your arguing against some position that I am not even suggesting.
You think im saying "if we took the money of billionaires we would have enough to give the whole country 1k/month forever"
Im suggesting that there is enough money when you think in totality so this is merely a question of how comfortable you are with redistribution. Your saying 2.5 trillion annually; ok thats only like 12% of GDP.
It is also completely logical that in the 21 century that only about 10% of value generated is enough to keep everyone fed clothed and sheltered.
You're saying redistribution. Meaning taking money from people with more to give to people with less. (I assume youre not just talking about moving figures around but leaving everyone with the same amount in the end).
I'm saying there are not enough people with more than people less to provide that $12,000 transfer to each person in a way that benefits most people.
If you just took 20% of people making over 150k it would be enough to give 1k a month to the bottom 50%. (and yes i understand this is household)
And this of course is the silly idea that your giving people making 50k a year 12k more for some reason.
This also doesnt include the real money up at the top top end.
It also doesnt include any wealth transfers (scary)
I think (with respect) you just dont realize how much wealth is out there.
Sure but using any definition you want at some point you will be at the end of the distribution that will be contributing not gaining from UBI. This function could be described as a graduated income tax. (Sure on your tax form you might be getting 12k a year in but your getting like 30k going out for UBI)
I think you are describing some system that is sorta some sorta economically inconsistent plan. Everyone gets 1k a month and nobody pays for it doesnt make economic sense.
The people that push UBI dont think in these illogical ways. They know very well that some people will have to pay for it. Some people wont see any gain. And some people will see gain.
Your confused about how this system is a win for everyone. Its not!
Thats what I said at top ; its redistributive.
Yes but there aren't enough people that can contribute to make it cause much sense to implement. The following is a graph distributed by Andrew Yang's campaign. (The most popular proponent of UBI)
Examine that graph and you'll clearly see you're taking $500 billion from net contributers and paying out $1.55 trillion to net beneficiaries. AND THIS IS ACCORDING TO HIS OWN CAMPAIGN. He's literally planning to pay out 3x what he's taking in.
In the fine print he admits that he has to pay for it with "future economic growth", i.e. debt. (you cant pay out cash for something now by hoping the economy grows in the future, it's physically impossible... you need debt to bridge the gap)
But explain to me how taking $1050 from the average person in order to pay $1000 to the average person grows GDP?
The simple fact of the matter is that this cannot be achieved without perhaps scrapping every other social program (Medicare, medicaid, social security) AND raising taxes in addition.
I agree this sounds a bit odd.
So we at least agree that america has a great deal of wealth. Certainly enough that if it really wanted to support its citizens with basic essentials it could. This kind of ubi is welfare or EI with no strings attached. This is a neutral statement about the health of the economy.
The policies of say Yang are not that interesting as for the most part he isnt really talking redistribution and I think he himself is ideologically opposed to it.
How I tend to think about the economy is very much like a game. If you have played say a game like "Banished" (https://store.steampowered.com/app/242920/Banished/) you can see how the economy works without the notions of money/debt/politics. Obviously it doesnt represent the real economy but it comes close to getting a taste. If you send me your Steam ID I will buy you a copy.
Im suggesting that there is enough money when you think in totality so this is merely a question of how comfortable you are with redistribution. Your saying 2.5 trillion annually; ok thats only like 12% of GDP. It is also completely logical that in the 21 century that only about 10% of value generated is enough to keep everyone fed clothed and sheltered.