Last week we looked at two major criticisms of UBI—that it is unaffordable and highly inflationary. As we saw, both objections largely fall apart under closer examination. A UBI is not “new spending” in the usual sense; it is primarily a transfer of income from those with the most to those with less. This week we turn to two additional concerns: workforce participation and the possible dilution of targeted welfare programs. One concern comes more from the political right, the

This post is a bit of a departure. I’m going to take a short look at money in politics in the US, what we can do about it, and how universal basic income fits in. Our politics are money-soaked, and that goes for both parties. As I point out in Shares in America, the better-financed candidate in US House races now wins over 90% of the time, and 70% to 88% of the time in Senate races. Candidates and parties are beholden to those who finance their campaigns. In 2024 megadonors g