I see arguments against UBI, that it's just the ruling class trying to remain in power, that your landlord will just raise rent by that much. Couldn't the same arguments be used against raising min wage? See, here's my thing, I think UBI would just be the capitalists desperately putting the system on life support but why are leftists so against UBI but not against raising min wage? You're not a liberal, you know better that you can't vote for or against either one. If those in power conclude that's what they need to do they'll do it. It won't matter if you agree or disagree or who's in office. To me that seems like one of those societal contradictions like Mao talks about. Under fuedalism those in power were naturally the only ones with the power to change society, but they had no incentive to so they did what they could to remain in power as long as possible, but ironically the way they solved those contradictions either changed society or set the stage for societal change.

I just can't get worked up about UBI one way or the other, that's not a materialist way of viewing it. A materialist way of looking at it would be to figure out, is this going to be what the ruling class conclude to be the way they stay in power? If so, what effects will that have on society?

  • StellarTabi [none/use name]
    ·
    edit-2
    3 years ago

    pros: UBI kind of means you might not become homeless if you can't find a new job fast enough

    cons: usually UBI (at least, maybe in Andrew Yang's case) comes without everything Bernie promised, sometimes while revoking things we already have.

    I'd say it's an interesting pallet of bricks, but if somebody handed you half a wall worth of unassembled bricks you wouldn't call it a home fit for use.