this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2026
1 points (100.0% liked)
Ask Lemmygrad
1316 readers
1 users here now
A place to ask questions of Lemmygrad's best and brightest
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I think UBI is a terrible idea. It would create a new class that has absolutely no power, since they provide no labor, and is completely dependent on the capitalist class generosity to survive. They would have a worse quality of life, then those on minimum wage or unemployment subsidy.
Reduced working hours is a necessity at this point. For the last hundred years there's been no improvement in working hours, despite productivity rising massively. It seems this struggle is abandoned. But maybe a 6 hour working day could relaunch it? Also, from a productivity perspective, we need to work less, because capitalism is destroying the planet by overproducing, at this point we really don't gain much by increasing production even more. Food is a great example of this, we already overproduce the amount of food we require to feed all the human population, it's a problem of distribution and waste.
Wouldn't the "class" of people on UBI just be Lumpen Proletariat rather then a new class entirely? If not, I'd appreciate a correction.
I don't think so, this new class has a considerable purchasing power, that capitalists would try to compete for. Also, their entire life quality is dependent on how much the capitalist class tolerates them.
Doesn't sound that different from how the current working class is treated.
It's very different. The workers provide labor, which the capitalists need. Those on UBI provide nothing, they can't strike because they don't produce anything. The capitalist class, can't eliminate the working class because it relies on it. But the UBI will come mainly from taxation on capitalist profits.
Labour is not the only thing capitalists need from the workers, they're also at the same time commodity consumers. Even when reaching an advanced level of automation, the capitalists will need people to purchase their products which is where UBI enters the picture. Interestingly, the "UBI" class could actually strike by not consuming stuff.
Anyways i think you're just overthinking, the UBI in the imperial core is only a labour subsidy.
Only if the view is that labor must produce profit. Imagine those who write that first novel, paint that first mural, or aid the elderly, because they can financially afford to spend time do those things. A sidewalk chalk artist making everyone's day better with their whimsical takes. Someone at 40, deciding to go back to school as a change in profession, or to gain knowledge for knowledge sake. UBI would only be enough to cover basic necessities, things governments should ensure for everyone anyways. For some people, the basic would be enough.
It's a terrible idea which is why i support it in the imperial core. Less money for terrorism abroad, slighly better living conditions for the people which also means less people join the terrorist military.