The idea of basic income still just floors me. I think most people have no idea how life-changing it would be.

For an example, I’m probably disabled. I run an in-home daycare in part because it’s one of the jobs that I can do, despite my messed up back and feet. The hours, unfortunately, are very long. In order to make ends meet, I have to have a minimum of three kids, which brings my weekly salary to $240. IF I can manage to keep three kids, that’s a bit over $12,400 a year. My bills are about $850 a month, not counting stuff like tp and dish soap and dog food and clothing. However, while two of my clients have been long term, the third slot has a lot of turnover. I’ve had two months this year where I only had two, which knocks a third off my income and makes things incredibly tight. In order to get any sort of buffer, I have to take extra kids where I can. Weeknights, overnights, weekends. I’m having a very busy month, which will hopefully let me save up some sort of buffer against my next lean time.

The cost of that buffer is working seven days a week, and half of those for 18 hour days. Even on the days that I only work 6am to 7pm, I have to spend my evenings walking to the grocery store or the laundromat, both of which are not restful for said bad back or feet. And I still won’t have enough money to get a car, which would single-handedly take a huge burden off of me. Or health insurance. Or dental insurance. Or a savings account for my daughter. Or an apartment out of the ghetto. Or even an apartment IN the ghetto where my kid and I don’t have to share a bedroom.



Basic income, literally, would change my life. I’d never stop working–fuck that; I like my job, and I like to work in general. I just wouldn’t have to work as much of it. I would be able to spend the weekends with my daughter, instead of us having to spend all day working with the kids. I’d be able to buy her toys, books, all sorts of cool things, without having to try and buy stuff that can also be daycare stuff. Hell, I don’t need much, but just a little help would be amazing.

Even if every adult only gets $5000, that’s still over $400 a month. That would be like getting my tax return back every. single. month.

