New Plank: Universal Basic Income

Recommended by a vote of 6 to 4 with 1 abstention

Summary

This plank states our opposition to the idea of "universal basic income", an idea that is getting increasing mention in public policy circles and the general media, and which is very appropriate for our state platform because there are several cases of tests/demonstrations in California. (To be added after V.6 Welfare.)

Text

Any government-supported "universal basic income" scheme is just another form of welfare, and we object to it for the same reasons. "Guaranteeing" income to everybody inevitably will involve taking income or assets from many people through taxation or inflation, violating their rights, making the overall economy less productive, and further leading the population as a whole toward a condition of serfdom. In addition, while we recognize and support the right of private individuals to provide financial assistance to anyone they deem deserving, and to experiment with ways of doing that which may resemble universal basic income, we oppose government sponsorship of such "test programs" since their transparent, and often even explicitly acknowledged, purpose is to promote the idea for eventual implementation by government.