I’m curious where people see Universal Basic Income on the political spectrum. Please mention what national/cultural/generational background is informing your answer. Thanks!
Definitely left-wing since that money is taken through taxes (especially from the rich) and is given to anyone. I don’t see how that could be right wing as many here say
I’d argue it isn’t left or right, just a tool. Leftism isn’t simply redistribution of wealth, but collective ownership of industry. Capitalists can use UBI as a way to replace more comprehensive safety nets, like single payer Healthcare, and implement a flat tax across the board.
You can use UBI as a leftist, to allow everyone to gain the profits of automation and increased productivity, or you can use it as an excuse to cut safety nets. Depends on how you use it!
I think it’s left because it’s a social support thing, and I think it’s right because it’s super simple and puts power in the hands of individuals to choose how to spend it.
As a libertarian, I support UBI because I think a society with UBI has more liberty than one without it. I’m a conservative, so I abhor complex government, where petty tyranny can hide under the guise of policy. And UBI is simple.
Leftism is about worker ownership of the Means of Production, rightism is about Capitalist ownership of the Means of Production. You’re adding extra values onto it that don’t actually exist. For an example, conservatives are de facto for large government, at least in America, just with no social protections and a huge military and police system. Being “simple” isn’t right wing either.
Just popping in to say the level of reflection and accurate analysis between you and parent comment is dazzling. Spot on, friend.
Thanks, buddy! I try to give analysis from a leftist perspective without using big theory words that might scare off non-leftists or baby leftists, I find people tend to accept and agree with leftist theory if broken down in basic building blocks. Have a good one!
It’s neither. Leftism is collective ownership of the Means of Production, rightism is invidvidual ownership of the Means of Production. The left or the right can use it alongside either system.
