Scott Santens

Writer and Unconditional Universal #BasicIncome (UBI) advocate with a crowdfunded monthly basic income | Author of Let There Be Money | Editor of UBI Today | Founder and President of ITSAfoundation.org

Blog: https://www.scottsantens.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/scottsantens
YouTube: https://youtube.com/scottsantens
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/scottsantens

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Last Notes

2024-06-12 14:13:53

Economies should grow from the bottom up. Sustainably. The physics of an economy is for money to flow upwards where it concentrates, endangering the system itself. Mechanisms need to exist to "evaporate" money at the top (taxes), and for new money to flow up from the bottom through everyone as Universal Basic Income.

2024-06-06 14:26:07

Stockholders receive dividends for putting up the capital necessary for a corporation to be successful. All citizens together created the capital necessary for the US to be so successful. Public funds went into R&D. Now our data went into AI.
Universal basic income is a deserved citizen dividend.

2024-06-05 14:39:01

If a universal basic income of $15,000 a year would cause everyone to stop working, why is anyone currently earning over $15,000 a year? If you're reading this and have a higher income than $15k, why are you doing that? Reduce your hours and enjoy the sweet $15k lifestyle.

2024-06-03 17:05:58

Stop insisting on work requirements. Just provide cash unconditionally. People will still work.
Stop insisting on targeting the poor. Just provide cash universally. Tax the rich more than the amount. That way we won't exclude anyone in need.
On these core tenets, Unconditional Universal Basic Income exists.

2024-05-31 16:09:33

Struggle should be, "I can't figure out how to make fusion energy work," not "I can't figure out how to not live in poverty despite being surrounded by abundance."

2024-05-30 15:45:27

The idea that we should earn our survival is a narrative rooted not in freedom, but in control. Universal basic income challenges this by asserting that access to basic needs isn't earned, it's a right. Let's shift the narrative. Survival amidst plenty shouldn't be up for debate.

2024-05-22 16:33:45

Universal basic income is society as a whole saying to every individual member of society, "I have faith in you. Show me what you can do."
Anyone who has ever accomplished anything has first had someone in some way demonstrate their faith in them and their potential.

2024-05-21 13:59:05

Do not confuse welfare with Universal Basic Income. If you get $1k in welfare does it make sense to take a $1k job, lose your welfare and end up with the same $1k? No.
If you get $1k UBI, does it make sense to take a $1k job and end up with $2k? Yes.
This is why so many pilots show increases in work.

2024-05-19 17:03:30

To all the supporters of universal basic income out there, what happened to make you support it even more after you already came to support it?
For me it was learning the many dirty details of traditional welfare benefits and how programs like TANF are designed and treat people, and how many people in need they don't help.
https://media.hachyderm.io/media_attachments/files/112/468/352/661/680/277/original/23c4ac08cc2ca87f.jpg

2024-05-18 22:31:12

The 'godfather of AI' says the government will have to establish UBI to deal with the impact of AI on inequality.
"I was consulted by people in Downing Street and I advised them that universal basic income was a good idea."
—Geoffrey Hinton
He thinks that AI will increase productivity and wealth, but that the money will go to the rich and not the people whose jobs get lost and that’s "going to be very bad for society."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnd607ekl99o

2024-05-16 15:34:12

When we talk about Universal Basic Income, we're not dreaming of some fantasy utopia. We're advocating for a more equitable platform where everyone has the freedom to pursue their aspirations without the anchor of financial despair.
It's time to level the playing field.
Let's make UBI a reality.

2024-05-15 17:18:12

"Everyone has to work to eat (unless rich) or else no one will do any work" is such a messed up way of thinking about human behavior and our apparent need to sustain poverty to prevent the collapse of civilization.
Most everyone wants more than a poverty line unconditional basic income would provide.

2024-05-14 14:59:46

Money is like shit. If we spread it around, it functions as fertilizer, enabling incredible ideas to sprout and grow. If instead we just pile it up into mountains, it stinks and all the great stuff that could sprout and flourish is starved of nutrients.
Universal basic income is the good shit.

2024-05-10 16:55:30

I make a point of posting and amplifying posts about the concept of unconditional basic income. I do this in the hope of inspiring others to do the same. UBI isn't the only change we need to make, but I do believe it's the single most important one. If you agree, please help amplify UBI posts.

2024-05-07 13:47:48

Day-to-day survival should not be our main gig.
Humanity is meant to do far more than just not die.
Unconditional basic income is the foundation for a humanity where survival is guaranteed, and figuring out how to truly thrive becomes our main gig.

2024-05-03 13:58:19

Everyone in Alaska has enjoyed a Universal Basic Income for over 40 years for just breathing in Alaska. Has it harmed them? No. Employment increased. Inflation slowed. Poverty went down. Obesity went down. Child abuse went down.
They basically used Thomas Paine's argument.
https://www.libertarianism.org/articles/thomas-paines-solution-poverty

2024-05-02 13:34:26

The concept of Universal Basic Income isn't about discouraging hard work; it's about ensuring everyone has the fundamental necessities to survive. Our society should not be one where survival is a privilege. It's time we make it a right. Basic income is not charity; it's justice.

2024-04-23 14:20:07

Dismantling myths about Universal Basic Income one fact at a time:
UBI isn't about giving money to do nothing. It's about money to do ANYTHING. This is in stark contrast to traditional welfare benefits that require people to keep their incomes sufficiently low to keep getting it.

2024-04-21 15:42:45

"Looking at the early findings of [the basic income for artists] pilot a compelling case is already emerging to justify rolling out this basic income to all artists – and make no mistake – this is my absolute goal.”
Universal basic income will spark the next Renaissance.
https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/20/catherine-martin-signals-ground-breaking-basic-income-scheme-for-artists-to-be-expanded/

2024-04-18 17:29:42

Let's dispel a myth: Universal Basic Income isn't about funding idleness; it's about funding potential. We can have a world where every mind has the means to chase their bliss. That's not simple charity; that's an investment in human capital at its finest. Imagine more Einsteins! And da Vincis.

2024-04-17 21:12:45

I dream of a day when financial stability isn't an exclusive club but a universal right. Unconditional Basic Income isn't about giving handouts; it's about handing back dignity and the freedom to innovate. Let's all shift from survival mode to thrive mode together. It's time.

2024-04-16 13:48:34

Every single one of us should be in the business of planting trees whose shade we know we will never enjoy ourselves. That shade is for our kids and our kids' kids. So to me, it's profoundly selfish to suggest anyone doesn't deserve having it easier than we had it with stuff like unconditional basic income and universal healthcare because "ThEy DiDn'T eArN iT."

2024-04-13 13:41:40

Here's a thought to simmer on your mental stovetop:
Unconditional Basic Income isn't just about putting money in more pockets and security in more souls. It's about acknowledging that our greatest resource isn't gold, oil, or data—it's human potential. Unleashing that? Priceless.

2024-04-06 14:45:01

When you are poor, in many ways you can't afford to work, which is why so many basic income pilots focused on low income households show increased work.
When you have some non-zero amount of money, UBI assists work.
There is then some amount of money high enough to reduce work.