Pelosi says 'guaranteed income' plan for Americans worth considering as House Democrats push forward

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Pelosi says ‘guaranteed income’ plan for Americans worth considering as House Democrats push forward with next big coronavirus bill

Democrats are moving rapidly to unveil a massive new rescue bill, but opposition awaits in Senate.

By Erica Werner and John Wagner
April 27, 2020 at 1:12 p.m. EDT

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Monday that Congress might need to consider offering guaranteed income to some Americans to help the country recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We may have to think in terms of some different ways to put money in people’s pockets,” Pelosi said on MSNBC. “Others have suggested a minimum income, a guaranteed income for people. Is that worthy of attention now? Perhaps so.”

Her comments came as House Democrats push forward to unveil a major new economic rescue bill in coming days. Democrats want to boost aid for cities and states, increase funding for nutrition assistance and raise financial support for individual Americans. The emerging Democratic bill is certain to run into opposition from most Senate Republicans, and could set off a fierce ideological and partisan battle about how much further the federal government should go in its response to the novel coronavirus as the nation’s economy reels heading into the election.

The idea of a universal basic income was popularized by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, who advocated giving every adult American $1,000 a month. When he was pitching his idea, however, the unemployment rate was below 4 percent.

The idea has gained traction in recent weeks though as a possible response to massive job losses during the pandemic, with even some Republicans warming to it. Political leaders are hunting for ways to address the economic fallout after more than 26 million Americans have filed unemployment claims in less than two months.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/04/27/democrats-coronavirus-guaranteed-income/

[ck4829]

1. K&R

[Guilded Lilly]

2. Kick

[Newest Reality]

3. Highly Recommend x 330,000

This is going to be an inevitable decision to make in the near future, anyway.

I am sure many of us could comment in detail on and on why. It should be obvious.

Republicans would be expected to abhor this idea because they seem to like power to go with the money and what fun is that if you can't whip the wage slaves, huh? It's a tradition for them. Keeping people down increases power on top in their world view.

You can't have consumers without money. The wealth of high productivity has been rewarded with stagnant wages, service jobs, part-time work, no benefits. HUH? The masses pull the whole thing forward on their backs and sweat and bleed and cry and, nothing?

Some people are paranoid, (I don't blame them) and push conspiracy theories that "their", (vague, no referent) agenda is to kill us all off instead--just cull that herd. However, I note that because if we don't address the enormous inequity--especially as the crisis emphasizes and underscores the problems--we could potentially finish off our plunge into a 3rd-World existence for half of the population and that would have health and mortality implications in that sense.

Automation, of course is looming and will also bring this issue to a boil sooner or later.

Thanks for the article. I am really glad to see it brought up.

[crickets]

4. Good! K&R

[DAMANgoldberg]

5. Finally, addressing the Elephant in the room...

I have been on the UBI bandwagon for a few years now, though I didn't vote for its current champion, Andrew Yang. Direct cash payouts via Fed accounts for EVERYONE is straightforward, effective, and direct. Why I like Universal is that everyone gets it and can always be clawed back in the existing tax structure for those making over $___, whatever that number is. Also, direct payments from the Fed reduces the political incentives to use it as a bludgeoning tool for pettiness, of which Occupant45 is and has always been known for.

SOT: It took many days to finally get basic information about payments for SSI, SSDI recipient online, which happened yesterday (Sunday). Since most economic activities are a matter of "printing" money from the fed because it's not like it's backed with anything anymore other than a full faith and credit clause. Even devalued currency in the hands of those who will spend it is better than nothing at all. Plus, you really don't want anarchy as a policy directive, despite Occupant45.