Income Security

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Articles Archive for April 2009

federal budget »

[30 Apr 2009 | 3 Comments | ]

The $3.4 trillion federal budget has passed both houses of Congress, nicely timed for President Obama’s 100th day in office. That’s total spending, the broad outlines, setting the scene for lots of fights over the details. When people hear about Citizen Dividends, they often agree with the concept – stop the bailouts, give money directly [...]

politics »

[29 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

The political system is broken. A clear sign is Sen. Arlen Specter’s decision to defect to the Democrats. Pundits and politicians, however, typically and predictably, are mostly chattering about the cosmetics. Moderate Republicans, represented most forcefully by Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Olympia Snowe,  are bemoaning the loss. Her perspective is seconded by David Brooks. Democrats, [...]

health care, jobs »

[28 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

Swine flu is big news today. So is GM and the jobs that will be shed as it restructures. I juxtapose these issues because both sets of news stories illustrate fundamental problems with our political and economic system – fundamental problems that will be mostly solved with a guaranteed basic income, Citizen Dividends. Regarding swine [...]

health care, other countries »

[27 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and elsewhere, including confirmed cases in New York and other states, is an additional argument in favor of Citizen Dividends. When everyone has a guaranteed basic income, we’ll be much more able to stop the spread of the disease. And much better prepared to cope with whatever happens. [...]

popular support »

[24 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

“Income security” — and it’s opposite, income anxiety — are among the themes David Brooks considers in a column in today’s New York Times.  Here are a few key sentences: As you’d expect, there’s a lot of economic anxiety in the country, spanning every income category. Sixty-four percent of Americans believe there are more risks [...]

national service »

[22 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

Just about every politician supports community service, it seems. Universal community service could become a reality if we start with Citizen Dividends.

popular support »

[19 Apr 2009 | One Comment | ]

“Tea party” tax protests have been in the news all week. “Taxed Enough Already,” protesters declare, with the tea bags used to symbolize anger at government, especially the bank bailouts. But will anything come of it? If those protesters sincerely seek to cut government, they ought to endorse Citizen Dividends.

Foreign policy »

[18 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

With President Obama in Trinidad and Tobago today, after being in Mexico yesterday, there’s lots of news about Latin America. Most of all, people are talking about Cuba. Suppose the United States enacts Citizen Dividends and encourages other countries in the hemisphere to join us in ensuring that every citizen has a guaranteed basic income. [...]

tax reform »

[15 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

It’s April 15 and there’s lots of news and talk, as occurs every year on this day, about taxes. If we had Citizen Dividends, if every adult had a guaranteed basic income, it would be much easier to enact real tax reform. Radical simplification of the whole system would become politically feasible. One reform proposal [...]

conservatives, liberals, poverty »

[12 Apr 2009 | Comments Off | ]

The most cost-effective and least intrusive — thus, in one word, conservative — way to help the poor is with a guaranteed basic income, Citizen Dividends. Every poor person will have some income, guaranteed, to meet their basic needs. That income will be provided with minimal government, because the same amount will go to everyone, [...]

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