Absolutely. But it's going to happen.
They'll just list a load of issues that people will look at and go "wow they all annoy me too, here's my vote".
Just have to try and take humour from the shitshow that follows and hope there is still a country left afterwards.
Oh yes, far far worse.
But it’s going to happen.
There is a cultural issue to address, but I imagine there are a thousand (at least) different interpretations of what the issue is and many more "solutions".
Anyway, AI is going to increase the inactive population and ecological overshoot is going to wipe out most of these problems, which is why we're increasing spending on bombs, so we can end it with a fireworks display.
@noodle would UBI increase inflation?
Only if it added excess cash.
Average earnings are about £35000. Currently tax and NI would be about £7000, take home of £28000.
Give everyone UBI of £12000 - no need for state pension now, just UBI. The average earner would need to pay tax at a rate to give them a take home pay including UBI of £28000. So £16000 of the £35000, tax of £19000, tax rate of about 55% on all earnings.
So someone currently working part time, making £12000, would get UBI of £12000 plus earnings of 12000*0.45 = £5400, £17400 all in, probably around what they get now with benefits top up. No need for benefits now.
Someone now on £50000 would now be taking home about £38000. Under my UBI system, they're taking home £12000 UBI plus £50000*0.45 = £22500 +£12000 = £34500
Someone now on £80000 would currently be taking home £56000. Under my system, 12000+80000*.45= £48000.
Benefits might continue to target certain things, like Child Benefit to encourage us all to get jiggy. But no safety net. Work pays for everyone.
Might need to lower my UBI slightly to get income tax under 50% for the psychological aspect, might be able to lower tax because we're no longer funding universal credit. But a much fairer system I think.
I think it might be a hard sell for workers to earn substantially less to give payments to those not working?
I'd be on more, and that's all that matters, right?
That is textbook tax thinking. If we can get it to where I earn more I'll be all in.
Currently Universal credit + housing benefit for a single non-working person is, depending on where you live, about £800/month. You're already "funding" that. UBI could be set at that level.
Millions of people are doing 'work' that no one actually benefits from now and AI will only add to the need for less people to be 'working'.
The only reason to encourage ( sorry force) people who cannot work to work is to increase competition for jobs and drive down wages,
It's how capitalism works.
As I said earlier, progressive tax is someone else paying more but not me.
But not for everyone
I’ve given an example earlier of someone who can work, but only works 3 days due to the benefits they can claim. That’s someone who can work and there are many thousands of them.
Absolutely no one is demanding anyone who can’t work should be.
What sort of things do you mean? I've got visions of people digging holes and filling them in again, but don't think anyone is currently paid for that?
Sure, it's pithy, but it's inaccurate and profoundly unhelpful.
The left got skewed. Rather than everyone should contribute to the best of their ability, it's become no expectation of contribution.
