UBI Welfare Debate

Comments debate whether universal cash transfer programs like UBI are equivalent to traditional welfare, critiquing means-testing, work incentives, and government handouts.

📉 Falling 0.4x Politics & Society
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#2141
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Keywords

OK aynrand.org EITC USA DNA welfare programs money government yea means society helped food stamps giving

Sample Comments

ReactiveJelly Oct 22, 2022 View on HN

We can't just give people money?

ams6110 Dec 23, 2018 View on HN

Yes it's welfare by another mechanism. It's giving you someone else's money, not letting you keep more of yours.

aussieguy1234 Nov 15, 2018 View on HN

If this isn't welfare, what is?

TrackerFF Feb 10, 2022 View on HN

Not too different from the "I earn $xxxk/year, and don't need any help from welfare programs. Why do we even have them? They make people lazy" crowd.

NullPrefix Jan 12, 2021 View on HN

This sounds like welfare with extra steps

yummyfajitas Dec 27, 2010 View on HN

Giving the poor less free stuff != taking stuff away from them.

judk Apr 11, 2014 View on HN

It seems counterproductive to the point of welfare to have the people who need welfare pay for it. It isn't an insurance policy.

chunky1994 Aug 10, 2013 View on HN

Unless I'm missing some obvious sarcasm here, isn't this exactly what a welfare state does?

frockington1 Jan 2, 2020 View on HN

Don't we already heavily subsidize poverty via welfare programs? I don't see how throwing even more money at a problem would have a different outcome.

badpun May 31, 2019 View on HN

I'm guessing there are welfare programs that make up the difference? Subsidised housing, food stamps etc.