Universal Basic Income not ‘idiotic' Editor: "Mr./Ms. Foody" seems quite fond of platitudes, especially those which are untrue. S/He asks where such "idiotic ideas" come from, as if UBIs (Universal Basic Income) are unheard-of, novel, untested.

Editor:

"Mr./Ms. Foody" seems quite fond of platitudes, especially those which are untrue. S/He asks where such "idiotic ideas" come from, as if UBIs (Universal Basic Income) are unheard-of, novel, untested. The idea was the brainchild of our own American founding father statesman, Thomas Paine, who was no idiot. UBIs work. More people in the world believe they are the only way forward to a civilized world than who disbelieve it.

A partial UBI works very well in Alabama. UBIs worked well, on test basis, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, parts of North Carolina, Iowa, and in Seattle, Denver and Gary. Ditto EBCI Cherokee. UBI is imminent in Canada -- implementing a UBI already, and Brazil -- where small-scale test UBI is under way. Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, are all studying model UBIs. France, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other countries -- all seriously considering UBIs. Difficult to take the description "idiotic" seriously.

Application of the term "socialist" to UBI is anachronistically ridiculous. How can anything conceived of and described 80-90 years before early socialism ever was, possibly be considered "socialist"?

Where, in our entire body of law, does one find the statements "humans are meant to provide for themselves" or that "they must work"? It is easy to find, however, that slavery is against the law. Requiring people to work is slavery. Compelling them to work at jobs no one wants to do is even worse -- it's condemning people to slavery with spiteful hatred and unimaginable cruelty. Enforced work in exchange for mere survival was outlawed Jan. 31, 1865; it's known as the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Here's my question: What kind of ignorant, un-American, indecent, immoral person(s) come up with such ideas as espoused in that previous letter?

Stephanie Blaine

Stillwater