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Comment by drdaeman | Hacker News Reader

> Everybody thinks UBI is a great idea

Irrespective of anyone's personal opinion, I'm absolutely sure it's not everybody. And there are valid reasons for this - but every opponent also imagines something different, just as proponents do.

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I don't want it - I have a real knack of stretching money and I could very well see myself becoming lazy if given a dependable source of unearned income.

Look no further than the Financial Independence movement for more evidence than you'd ever need. It's made up of people who basically are creating their own personal basic income, and while some do work to pass the time, a goodly percentage do no economically meaningful work again.

Except that was the goal of the one that did this to themselves and they made it not to "survive" but to live the life they want.

UBI should be fixed to a survivable life style. You get the minimum, no luxury. I'm pretty sure that movement fix their income to a bit higher than that, to an amount that at least allow them a bit of luxury (restaurant is one).

It was also their goal, not working of working to pass the time.

As a counter point, look at anyone that make more than 100 000$ a year. They have much more than needed, yet can still works insane hours. Is it that they ALWAYS NEED more money or simply that's what they want to do and having more money is an extension to it? Workaholic exist...

Fine, then you can personally refuse it :)

Fixed.

I also don't think it's a good idea at all. It may be a cultural thing but I'm sure most people in my surroundings will stop working and eventually even fall for substance abuse. I can see myself falling for that. Have you even seen how many NEETs are there? That would go over the roof. I think these UBI discussions are monopolised by people who live in a bubble.

I do not disagree, but I think it's also interesting to consider the following: currently there's a lot of suffering caused by poverty. Or by the frustration derived from the need to get/keep a job to avoid poverty. Those economic needs might have some positive effects, but they also push the society in very wrong directions. Also, for many people the reality sucking so much is exactly the reason that leads them to become NEETs, addicts, depressed, indifferent, conformists, etc.

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