ar-AAvLSi7

This looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Should have added socialism to the target groups.

With all of the freebies, where is the incentive to WORK? There are some people hurting in this country, I'll give you that but WHY? One needs either education or skills to earn a living.

There are several possible negatives.

First, the entire premise requires additional taxation of corporations benefiting from "increased automation". If we've learned nothing about economics, it should still be obvious that taxing corporations leads to even fewer jobs and more rapid inflation. That's because companies don't say, "You got me there...I'll pay my fair share"; they make up for the lost profits by cutting expenditures and raising prices for goods. You'll have more non-automated jobs being phased out or blended into other roles so as to let more people "go"...then the goods and services those remaining hoomans and robots produce will cost more...potentially enough to dramatically reduce, if not mitigate the added $1000/month for many.

Second, once people are receiving a universal benefit, the legislators will find ways to leverage it. So Mr. Working Joe...you're getting a Grand a month from us; now we need you to register your expenses with the Federal Govt. so we can "track your progress". Oh...by the way, now that you earn more, we're going to pass legislation requiring all vehicles to be hybrids to be street legal. Sorry that the new cars cost so much more (nod, nod-wink to my esteemed Congressional peer whose state is home to the factory...and who agreed to vote on my bill this session).

Finally, it will create a larger dependent base. I'll admit I'm 50:50 on this, because every day I see people struggling, working two...maybe three jobs to survive. For them, this money wouldn't allow them to "quit", but it might let them actually live better. However, as stated before...it won't be enough to actually make anyone "financially independent", so it will become part of what they depend on...and as they say, "easy come...easy go".

My alternative solution is admittedly radical, but I believe no less feasible. There's just over 360 million citizens according to census. An F-35 costs around $85M, a new carrier...$18 BILLION...with a $2.5M/day operating budget. I'd consider any claim we can't find $360M out there incredulous.

Give each American citizen $1M tax free, one time in their life...don't up taxes or remove other current taxes already in place. Smart folks would pay off all debts, set themselves up with a home and a means of making a sustainable living. Yes, many "paper-based" industries would fail, but with a crisp new $1M in their accounts, all those loan processors and real estate agents SHOULD be able to re-invent themselves. If people blew it on a fleet of cars, yachts or vacations...let fate do its thing.

MY guess? You'd see a shift to more localized economies, more people self-employed (still paying taxes mind you) and a whole bunch of excuses dried up for those who wouldn't take advantage of Uncle Sam's big bonus.