Thomas:
>
>As I said in my intro, this is only half the posting. And it was basically
>to answer the middle class knee jerk reactions to the concept of a Basic
>Income. My plan was only done for Canada, so I can't respond to your
>information. I think when you see the actual concepts of redistribution I
>developed, it may not sound as far fetched as your figures indicate.
Sorry, Thomas, but as I read your piece, I was under the impression that you
were concerned with global income security. Perhaps it was the following
passage that led me to believe that:
Thomas 2
Good point Ed, I guess in my zeal to make my argument I slipped from
national to international assumptions and you were quite right to challenge
that sloppiness.
"The world has 6 billion people, I’m told and .05% of 6 billion is a very
small figure and yet even that small percentage amounts to 30 million
people. (This is equal to the population of Canada.) I am optimist enough
to believe that everyone except 30 million would answer "yes" to the above
question, for who could want for more than they can possible have and still
deny another a pittance. This leads to a following question, "What system
could we devise that reduced no one, encouraged everyone (less 30 million)
and provided a Basic Income sufficient for food, shelter, cleanliness and
the possible opportunity of exploring some of their desires to every person
within a nation. (or on the whole planet)"
Don't give up Thomas. I rather like the idea of a basic income. I'm not
sure that I agree with Keith Hudson that it should be done on a local or
regional basis, but he may be right. But here is a thought: In Canada and
in other liberal-democratic countries many services that people require are
paid for via the tax system - health, welfare and education being among the
foremost. What about a system that puts the money people now pay in taxes
back into their pockets as part of their basic income.
Thomas 2
Very astute Ed, of course I say that because your ideas agree with mine in
this area. When I post my actual plan today, I think you might find it
interesting how I have attempted to integrate, health care, education and
defense into my Basic Income Plan.
