How's THIS Idea for Achieving Communism in this Country?

[LAGC]

http://www.usbig.net/

What is a BIG?

The basic income guarantee (BIG) is a government insured guarantee that no citizen's income will fall below some minimal level for any reason. All citizens would receive a BIG without means test or work requirement. BIG is an efficient and effective solution to poverty that preserves individual autonomy and work incentives while simplifying government social policy. Some researchers estimate that a small BIG, sufficient to cut the poverty rate in half could be financed without an increase in taxes by redirecting funds from spending programs and tax deductions aimed at maintaining incomes.

Consider the Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) that gives every Alaskan a piece of the economic pie:

http://www.usbig.net/newsletters/51Winter2009.htm#2._The_Effects_of

Now just consider that on a slightly larger scale...

I don't think its so far-fetched. Karl Marx himself said that communism would only be viable once capitalism has reached full maturity. Its clear that Lenin and Mao didn't heed his advice, and instead tried to implement it in backwards, under-developed agrarian economies. But here in America? Anything's possible...

From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs.

[CAG]

1. ...and where would that money come from....trees??

[nadinbrzezinski]

This is the little thing people forget

that said, this minimum income is great to keep people fed in economic times like this... but people need to work in exchange for these monies, unless they absolutely cannot.

The programs of the 1930s got that point and understood it well.

[Hannah Bell]

14. need to work - why? it's not guaranteed income with a work requirement.

it's a work farm or jobs program.

maybe they could just be given some pharma & bank stock.

cause that generates income without "work".

[ingac70]

3. Profits from natural resources.

Just like in Alaska. So, yeah, trees could be one of them. ;)

[LAGC]

4. By taxing the rich, of course.

From those who have exploited so much, to those who no longer have viable sources of income due to "out-sourcing" and "right-sizing" by faceless corporate entities.

[CAG]

12. and what do we do when all of those rich have been taxed into middle class?

Why would anyone want to start or expand any business (thus creating more jobs) in that system?

[Hydra]

5. Where does money come from now?

"Dollars" are just pieces of paper until there is labor to back it up, either in the form of a service or a product.

That's actually the problem we're having right now- there's plenty of labor available, and demand for products and services...but not enough dollars flowing in the system.

Money was always supposed to make it easier for us to trade for what we need, but now it's become something that limits us. Rather ironic, IMO.

[rrneck]

6. Rich people and corporations I guess.

Hard to do without a lot of bloodshed I'll bet.

[rfranklin]

7. Nationalize Walmart...

Problems solved!

[LAGC]

2. Deleted.

Wrong spot.

[yodoobo]

8. I'm not sure what you are getting at.

Are you advocating for Communism, or advocating against it?

If you are advocating for it, I would imagine one of the Sarah Palin forums might be better avenue.

if you are advocating against it, you might want to sharpen your message a tad.

Just saying...

[LAGC]

10. Regarding Sarah Palin.

I find it interesting that there she sits (or did sit anyway, before she became a cry-baby and QUIT) in that bastion of psuedo-Communism called Alaska with their Alaska Permanent Fund. I never heard any clarion calls from her conservative mouth to abolish the program... now THAT would have had Alaskans up in arms!

[yodoobo]

11. Indeed.

Its amazing how much silence there is on that program.

[rurallib]

9. Didn't Nixon propose something like that?

yes, that Dick Nixon.

[Hannah Bell]

13. yes, he did. the commie.