Notices by Scott Santens (scottsantens@hachyderm.io), page 3

Myth: Universal Basic Income is a magnet for the idle. In reality, it's the catalyst for unleashed potential. Visualize a world where your next meal isn't your next worry. That world is one giant leap closer to solving the puzzles of poverty and unleashing collective brilliance.

Fresh results from another guaranteed basic income pilot. This time from Seattle's King County where 102 people got $500/mo for 10 months.

Employment nearly doubled from 37% to 66%

Average income from jobs went up by $410/mo

Retirement plans nearly tripled

Percent with any savings of those with kids went from 0% to 42%

Percent with any savings of those without kids went from 24% to 35%

Participants also reported gains in health and well-being
https://www.seakingwdc.org/latest-news/gbi-report

But even then, look at billionaires and millionaires. Why do they still work? Because they are special? Why do so many books about how to get rich recommend passive income streams? Any rich person will tell you that getting rich isn't about work but making your money do the work.

When you are poor, in many ways you can't afford to work, which is why so many basic income pilots focused on low income households show increased work.

When you have some non-zero amount of money, UBI assists work.

There is then some amount of money high enough to reduce work.

Let's flip the script on Universal Basic Income fears: What if UBI isn't the end of ambition, but the beginning of fulfillment? Imagine a world where people engage in work that they CHOOSE, not because they're scared of going hungry, but because they like the pay or the work.

New results from another completed guaranteed #basicincome pilot. This one was in Cambridge, MA where 130 people got $500/mo for 18 months. Did they work less? No. They worked MORE.

Recipients went from 36% FT employed to 40%. Those who didn't get it went from 30% to 28%. PT and seasonal employment also grew for those with the basic income.

That isn't unusual. Most of the pilots have shown increased employment.

So what else was observed?

Read the report:
https://cambridgecf.org/research-on-cambridges-guaranteed-income-pilot-shows-tangible-benefits-for-cash-recipients/

Income arises primarily from three sources: work, capital, and land. Robots and AI are capital. They are trained on data that all of us largely created collectively. That data, too, is capital.

Universal basic income should be seen as arising from our capital and land, not anyone's work.

Reflecting on the resistance against Unconditional Basic Income, it strikes me how deep our fear of lack of control is. UBI isn't the end of work and good choices. It's the beginning of a new era where creativity and passion and good wages drive our endeavors, not mere survival fears.

We are better than how things are.

An honest #BasicIncome meme

We worry about providing Universal Basic Income because people might stop working, but here's a thought: maybe, just maybe, with a little financial security, people might actually pursue work they truly choose rather than work to just not die. Imagine that world for a moment.

Recognize the vicious cycle. When you're living paycheck to paycheck - every unexpected expense creates a crisis. Universal Basic Income will alleviate that constant stress and uncertainty. It will allow people to plan for their future, not just survive until the next paycheck.

Just published my newest article. This one is about the billionaire-fueled effort to ban basic income experiments, the group responsible, and the names of their biggest known donors.

https://www.scottsantens.com/billionaire-fueled-lobbying-group-behind-the-state-bills-to-ban-universal-basic-income-experiments-ubi/

Why do we value work more than the humans doing it? Why do we devalue those who don't have conventional jobs, even when they contribute in countless ways to our society and economy?

Universal #BasicIncome is a recognition of everyone's intrinsic worth, not their economic output.

Picture this: A world where no one is one paycheck away from homelessness. Where financial stress doesn't break families apart. That's the promise of Universal Basic Income. It's not just about economics; it's about compassion, stability, and the type of society we aspire to be.

Me: We should do unconditional #basicincome.

Random conservative: "But it's socialism!"

Random socialist: "But it's not socialism!"

It's so tiring. People support and oppose UBI on all sides of the political spectrum. Take off your polarized glasses and see that IT JUST WORKS.

Fresh basic income pilot results, this time from Arlington, Virginia where 200 people got $500 a month for 2 years. The findings:

Employment INCREASED by 16%, and their incomes from paid work INCREASED by 37%. The control group saw no such gains.

Nearly three-quarters of the treatment group also reported improved mental and physical well-being and an increased sense of control, compared to the control group.

https://www.arlnow.com/2024/02/06/report-arlingtons-first-guaranteed-income-pilot-boosted-quality-of-life-for-poorest-residents/ #BasicIncome

The perception of Universal #BasicIncome is mistakenly seen as a handout, when in fact it’s an investment. An investment in human potential, creativity, and overall well-being. Let's reframe the narrative around UBI and recognize its true power to uplift and embolden our society.

Thank you to my 200+ supporters on Patreon who make my daily advocacy of universal basic income possible. If you appreciate my UBI work, please consider joining them. Also thank you to everyone else who makes a point of sharing my posts to amplify the message and further grow support!

Patreon.com/scottsantens #BasicIncome

When did working oneself to the bone, sacrificing mental and physical health, become a badge of honor? When did rest and enjoying what we collectively create become something to be guilty of? This is not sustainable.

Adopting Unconditional #BasicIncome can restore balance in our toil-centric society.

Universal basic income isn't just about putting food on the table. It's about providing opportunities and freedom. It's about lifting the veil of financial insecurity that clouds many lives, allowing people to not just survive but thrive. UBI is a way to rebalance a tipped scale. #BasicIncome