America has been struggling greatly in combating the coronavirus pandemic and ensuring the safety of the people. Many schools have been closing down, people are now working at home, or even getting laid off. Most stores have been panic shopped to death. The stock market is collapsing like never before since the 2008 recession.

This is now causing concern whether something should be done about relieving the economy or helping people who are struggling during these unfortunate events. Some have suggested a sort of tax cut for Americans to support their financial stability in this crisis. Others are now preaching for free healthcare (at least for the time being) to ensure that everyone has the comfort of being able to get the treatments they need.

However, a different suggestion has been rising in popularity: A Universal Basic Income (UBI). Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D.) recently introduced a bill to Congress, which would hand every single American $1000 a month for the duration of this pandemic. Senator Mitt Romney (R.) and Bernie Sanders have called for similar policies to enact the same idea. Even President Donald Trump agreed to this idea, saying that they must do this “immediately.” This plan has gained a lot of bipartisan support.

Mitt Romney, from Mediaite

Would it work?

There are many ways that this would affect the nation if passed by the government. Former Democratic Candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang was a strong advocate for UBI, and continues to fight for it with his new nonprofit organization, Humanity Forward, which aims to spread the awareness of the necessity of a Basic Income across the nation. Yang has now shown that there is a stronger desire and need for UBI in the face of this pandemic.

Photo by John Locher/AP/Shutterstock (10532388f) Democratic presidential candidate entrepreneur Andrew Yang speaks at the Charles H. MacNider Art Museum during a campaign event, in Mason City, Iowa Election 2020 Andrew Yang, Mason City, USA – 21 Jan 2020

Yang has explained that many workers are going to be greatly impacted from the virus, as many people aren’t going to be able to work due to the closings of many stores and businesses:

And so you have to look up and say, ‘How the heck do you try to keep millions of Americans of families afloat in that situation?’ We already had record levels of financial precariousness before the crisis: Almost half of Americans said they couldn’t afford an unexpected $400 bill, and 78% are living paycheck to paycheck. So what do you do? Interview with Andrew Yang from Rolling Stone

His words express the dire situation many Americans are in, struggling to provide basic needs for their families.

UBI wouldn’t also just support us financially, but other businesses too. In response to whether we should worry about the cost of this plan, Yang references Mitt Romney about how the money would go back to the economy:

What Mitt also knows is that if you put money into people’s hands it’s going to go straight into buying toilet paper and food and Netflix and circulate through the economy in myriad ways. The money doesn’t disappear; it gets spent in the economy. You’re going to get that money back probably as a multiplier effect. The trickle-up economy is real. Interview with Andrew Yang from Rolling Stone



Criticisms

Many of the criticisms towards UBI in any condition is the overall exorbitant cost. Yang has explained multiple times how the money would go directly back to the economy and even causing to to grow further.

Even at this point, however, there are many politicians who are still against this idea. Surprisingly, Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi shot down the idea, and instead wants to do means-testing, or only give these benefits to people who get hit hardest by the pandemic, or those who don’t come from wealthy families.

There are many issues with means-testing, as receiving money would take much longer than it should. Instead of immediately relieving the problem, it would take a long duration of time to set this payment. This also creates some discrimination, where closed businesses or certain workers who happen to make a big salary that get hit significantly won’t get anything out of this.

From Politco

Many people have criticized her refusing the original plan, calling him more “right” of the political spectrum than the Republicans. Twitter, of course, took every chance it could to inflict backlash at her, with #PeopleVsPelosi trending for two days.

"I question your progressive credentials if you literally care more about making sure that someone doesn't get something they don't need, than making sure no one in need doesn't get something they really really need." – @scottsantens #PeopleVsPelosi #COVID19ON pic.twitter.com/QJP6FDgpyK — Laura (@LauraWPH) March 19, 2020

UBI would be the best option to give immediate relief for both the people and the economy. It’s good that people are starting to take interest in this idea, and hopefully this gives the chance for politicians to consider implementing a permanent system of UBI in the nation.