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Comment by jandrese | Hacker News Reader

Maybe, but I've done charity work in south West Virginia and welfare depression is a serious issue in former coal country. You want to see the people do just anything but they've lost all motivation. It's not everybody, but it's a big enough percentage of the population to cause a lot of problems.

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Is there any avenue for investment and personal growth for the majority people in coal country, let alone those on long term welfare? I ask because a wealthy friend sends a substantial amount of money home to relatives in WV ($2k per person or so) and even though they save quite a bit, there is nothing for them to do with that money other than move out to a more economically active area if they want to improve their lives. Starting a business or getting an education is pointless because there's no market for anything but the bare necessities. They even had trouble finding good local caterers, photographers, and a wedding planner even though they had saved up enough money to cover a decent wedding in an urban city.

Basic income at least has the ability to thrust everyone in a region into the market by giving them disposable income so that there is actual activity that can provide opportunities.

State level welfare is not UBI.

For almost every state youll get 200 dollars in EBT/person. These are nontranferable, you must only buy unprepared food, etc. Yes, even now people abuse this. You cannot make a perfect lock.

If you have a kid you also get a bit of cash aid (less than 200 dollars.)

Try living on 400 bucks for the next month or 12 and see how depressed it will make you.

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