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?

  • bigboopballs [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    so they might reject X [...] even if it were their last chance to preserve capitalism.

    I hope that happens

    UBIs or whatever could be a very important temporary ail for many people, except if the UBI comes joined with gutting any other social safety net

    This is what I've been thinking, but around here it seems to be "UBI bad, no exceptions". Which is kinda weird, though I do understand concerns that reforms like UBI could discourage dissent against capitalism rather than people going for the full socialism or something.

    • RNAi [he/him]
      ·
      edit-2
      3 years ago

      Sounds like the big socdem question.

      If your goal is full socialism or something and they give you UBI as an immediate way to calm the population, that's a win for you and everyone in desperate condition.

      But if your goal is to let capitalism do its thing but with the population more calmed so your goal is UBI, then you are doing a moderate-fascism.

      No I will not explain.