21 June 2009
Alternative money system: universal basic income UBI
Posted by Cecilia under: Economy .
An unconditional income means a universal basic income UBI for all. This alternative money system has been discussed for years. The basic idea behind it is that every single person receives from the government a basic monthly income. The award is independent of age or working situation. The motivation behind UBI is to fight poverty and to create social justice.
Of course a system like this comes with consequences: When everybody receives a basic monthly income everybody should be able to have access to education and work. With “income for babies” families won’t suffer poverty because of the financial burden of raising children. And last but not least: social services such as retirement, social welfare and unemployment benefits aren’t needed anymore.
At first glance this system may provide some appealing details. but on second look we realize that the circumstances of society are still the same. We still live with the hierarchy of values. The hierarchy of values tempts us to take a monthly guaranteed income in order to purchase prestige objects - all in order to get esteem. We eventually realize that the problem of society is not lack of money. Even when money is given freely to everybody we still have social injustice.
As long as only the strongest, richest and most successful person gets esteem, even a system like UBI can’t solve poverty and social injustice.
A society of esteem doesn’t know greed or the eternal chase for money for receiving esteem. For a society of esteem UBI wouldn’t work. Citizens of a society of esteem understand that money doesn’t remove their endless search for esteem.
When esteem is given to everybody for their personality and talent, the appetite for more disappears and social justice appears.
One Comment so far...
Today in Sikantis – June 21, 2009 « Sikantis Says:
21 June 2009 at 1:22 am.
[...] Society of Esteem – Alternative money system: universal basic income UBI [...]
