Some references:
Upcoming Events See Events page for past events.
basicincome.ie
Frequently Asked Questions If you have a question that is not on this page, please contact us and we will respond to you shortly. What is a basic income?A basic income is a payment from the state to every resident on an individual basis, without any means test or work requirement. It […]
basicincome.ie
Isn’t basic income the ‘nanny state’ gone crazy?
Some people have suggested that a basic income involves too much support from the state and will make people too dependent. The way that basic income works is that the state, representing the entire community, provides the same unconditional basic support and security for all members of society. After that, each recipient is free to decide how best to organise the different parts of their lives such as family, personal development, work, education, community participation and leisure. This is very different from the constant monitoring that a so-called nanny state would engage in. Basic income provides a secure environment within which people are enabled to be self-reliant, to cooperate with others, and in general to be creative and imaginative about how they organise their lives.
Why should rich people get a basic income?
Guaranteeing a basic income to everyone, without conditions, is the best way to give economic security to everyone and to show care and respect for everyone. It is also administratively simpler to give basic income to everyone, avoiding the bureaucratic costs and intrusions of means-testing. However, people who are already rich would not be better off overall. In fact, they would make a bigger tax contribution than at present. But the universality of basic income means that should a wealthy person fall on hard times, their basic income would be automatically in place. They would not need to apply for assistance, which, under the present system, can involve a long waiting period.