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Knowing that it doesn't matter how badly you screw up, you'll always be able to cover your most basic needs.

This is one. We should go deeper into this question. I most certainly would continue doing a lot of the things I do now, but for fun and to progress the state-of-the-art in my field of work. I'd accept higher taxes in compensation for the assurance I will always be able to do what I do best, instead of what someone would pay me to do.




> > People in a functioning society still have to work

.. to pay taxes for social services.

> I'd accept higher taxes ...

how do you pay for these taxes if you have no job/income?


This assumes people just stop doing anything of value if there no longer is a proverbial stick in the form of financial ruin if they stop working.

Nobody is saying that the carrot (personal financial gain) needs to be removed from the equation. Just that everyone is guaranteed some basic level of financial support.

Society already produces enough wealth to cover the expense of UBI. Remember it would replace any other welfare systems in place today.

Personally I think I might take a bit more risk, and choose to do something that I personally believe is of actual value to society rather than please some corporation or VC.


> it would replace any other welfare systems in place today

I’ve never seen this math worked out.

Also, some benefits are inherently lumpy. A special-needs or chronically-ill person needs (and receives) resources that wouldn’t be covered by a broad-spectrum UBI.


Most UBI proposals assume a functioning healthcare system, which would deal with most of those needs. Probably not all, so you could certainly have additional programs as needed.




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