It is inevitable that the world will move closer and closer to a universal basic income. It’s only a matter of when.
Because of unfounded fears of automation, socialists griping about capitalism, and the public getting whinier, most governments will eventually institute a basic income without any strings attached. You will get paid just for breathing. And half of Americans support it (SEE: FREE MONEY: Half of Americans support universal basic income).
Fortunately, there are some jurisdictions that are retreating from this trend, even places that have experimented with the guaranteed income proposal.
This week, it was reported that Finland, which launched this crusade a few years ago, is canceling its pilot project. After initiating the program in January 2017, offering a randomly selected group of 2,000 unemployed people between the ages of 25 and 58 a monthly income of roughly $700, the government scrapped the entire program.
Reportedly, Kela, the nation’s social security agency, requested the government to expand the two-year program, but leadership ended funding. This means that the test will end in January 2019.
The results will be made public later next year.
Unfortunately, as one jurisdiction shies away from the concept, another jurisdiction is expanding it.
On Tuesday, the province of Ontario confirmed that its enrollment of more than 4,000 people in Lindsay, Hamilton Brantford and Brant County and Thunder Bay has been completed.
From the provincial government:
Through the pilot, people who earn less than the basic income amount through employment receive regular payments to help them better afford basic needs such as housing and food. Providing a predictable amount of money each month may also allow them to start or continue to work, or further their education.
In the pilot, participants in Lindsay, Hamilton Brantford and Brant County and Thunder Bay receive regular payments so they can better afford basic needs such as food and housing. This includes:
Up to $16,989 per year for a single person, less 50 per cent of any earned income
Up to $24,027 per year for a couple, less 50 per cent of any earned income
Up to an additional $6,000 per year for a person with a disability
Yikes.
And this doesn’t include the “free” tuition, the “free” prescription drugs, the “free” healthcare, the “free” childcare, and a plethora of other “free” goodies.
Knowing the way the current government runs things, it is likely they already have the results in mind: it works!
In the next few years, you can expect to see Queen’s Park make it provincewide, and more people will clamor to move to Ontario.
Also see: Bankrupt Stockton to offer poor, obese families free money for a year.
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