It's a perfect microcosm of debate today. Left wingers get to propose a solution. Right wingers get to call the left wingers dumb idealists. Left wingers get to call right wingers evil racists, etc.
The nice thing about UBI being automatic and not means tested is it means anybody can lose their job or quit and immediately start receiving benefits. Rather than what we have now where it’s stressful and bureaucratic to get benefits, and once you are on benefits you are faced with a welfare cliff.
The primary reason is that it's roughly 2.5x the cost. And given that social security is allready the largest expenditure and it's going to be unaffordable in it's current state, I am skeptical.
If that alone is not convincing, consider that most social security recipients receive more than the proposed UBI. And as social security was income tested, you would effectively be transferring social security payments (which are ostensibly a promise/mandatory savings plan) from retirees who paid their dues, to everyone else.
And consider that many benefits are that are covered now would not be available in UBI.
What about people who need intensive nursing? That cannot be covered with their UBI.
I actually like the general idea of replacing a patchwork of county/state/fed programs. I also like the idea of eliminating the welfare cliff.
I just think the amounts being considered are so huge that it's just infeasible.
Of course, you can propose a plan for how this will be paid for.
But sure, I'd accept there'd be medical care it couldn't realistically be expected to cover.
If you think you made some grand point, consider that this can be determined in like 10 seconds of internet searching. And in fact you're just further proving my point that supporters have absolutely no idea about actual budgets.
Eliminate all military, and you can increase the UBI from about 15k to 18k per year.
Thanks for mentioning this though, as it's exactly the proof i needed that left wingers really dont know how a budget works.