In the US (and I presume most 1st world countries), we're pretty thoroughly (and intentionally) infected with Consumerism.
People who are making $150,000 are not content, and are working 60-hour weeks to get that raise up to $160,000. And the same thing is happening with people making $500,000 or $50,000.
All of those salaries produce MORE than enough to live comfortably on. And many people with a good salary could -- if they so chose -- live on $40,000 and save like crazy, and retire very early (as preached by Mr. Money Mustache among others).
But ALMOST NO ONE DOES THAT. So what logical basis is there to assume that Basic Income would change this? Many people already have Basic Income plus a whole lot more, but they don't pursue a basic secure position. Rather, they spend all they make (and often more), and they work slavishly to get more income.
(Is Basic Income meant to help the poor and unemployed ... who don't have the "good salary" I mention above? If so, I'm all for it, but it seems to me that if the price of a slum apartment is $300/month before Basic Income, it will merely be $600/month -- or whatever scale factor it takes to soak up that extra income -- after it.)
That's much of the point. If people want to feel useful and most people want to be paid to feel useful, then only a few will opt out - hopefully in favor of something that means more to them - leaving space for those who can't and/or won't.
People who are making $150,000 are not content, and are working 60-hour weeks to get that raise up to $160,000. And the same thing is happening with people making $500,000 or $50,000.
All of those salaries produce MORE than enough to live comfortably on. And many people with a good salary could -- if they so chose -- live on $40,000 and save like crazy, and retire very early (as preached by Mr. Money Mustache among others).
But ALMOST NO ONE DOES THAT. So what logical basis is there to assume that Basic Income would change this? Many people already have Basic Income plus a whole lot more, but they don't pursue a basic secure position. Rather, they spend all they make (and often more), and they work slavishly to get more income.
(Is Basic Income meant to help the poor and unemployed ... who don't have the "good salary" I mention above? If so, I'm all for it, but it seems to me that if the price of a slum apartment is $300/month before Basic Income, it will merely be $600/month -- or whatever scale factor it takes to soak up that extra income -- after it.)