A concept discussed by Krystal Ball of MSNBC's "The Cycle" it advocates that all welfare be terminated in favor of a mini-income or "minicome." Let's discuss.
How it works: For one, all other welfare programs would be eliminated to fund this minicome. The minicome itself would be a set dollar amount given to each individual instead of welfare. I believe that that set dollar amount would be equal to the poverty level of $20,000 a year adjusted for inflation. In addition, it would be made available to all non incarcerated adults. Basically, it gives everyone a paycheck from the government instead of traditional welfare. Mrs. Ball of MSNBC believes that it will not disincentives people from going out and finding a job as to get more they would need to go to work. Well, I disagree with this idea.
False hope: This idea is not the first of its kind. Milton Friedman came up with the negative income tax which worked in a similar fashion, but even he let that "thought exercise" go. Reason is that free money is and forever shall be a disincentive to work. And nothing will stop the more numerous masses from demanding more from their government. If any politician says they will increase the minicome, then they will get elected every single time. Eventually the system known as the minicome would collapse the financial ability of the government and the whole economic system of the country would collapse with it. What that minicome lacks is an understanding of how the human psyche works.
What they fail to realize: The reason for any system like the minicome causing destruction is simple and sad. It is because humans are and forever shall be animals. We seek the easy and safe path as much as possible and forget the long term consequences so long as we do not have to deal with them. In short, they will pass any problems onto the next generation. The minicome is the same with respect to human nature and its selfishness. Like all programs that give, but do not take back or make individuals uncomfortable relying on government, the system will simply feed the beast of humanities greed. As such, any and all systems that only give are doomed to fail. If human psychology is not taken into account then the system will be inherently doomed.
Conclusion: The problem with the welfare systems today is that people have become proud to be on them. They see welfare as a basic right (at least this is how I see it in my generation). Problem is people are foolish in many ways. They will take advantage of anything and everything. People must therefore be scorned for getting welfare. By scorning them, they will do everything they can to get off of it. Does it sound harsh? Well, yes it is harsh, but it is also the only feasible way right now. Until something that respects and understands the reality of human failings comes around, programs like the minicome are and forever shall be doomed to fail.
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