The trick that governments all around the world pull is taxing those who are not wealthy.
Taxation should not be a 'membership cost' for society. It should be a fee levied on the very wealthy, not out of some sense of spite, but in order that the system continues to produce reasonable outcomes for everyone.
When you do that, then basic income can be argued for reasonably.
Right now, poor/working class people fall over themselves to come up with reasons why BI won't work because they don't want their tax burdens to rise.
Land and capital owners should pay tax. Those with zero net worth really shouldn't. Why?
Because taxation on labour is effectively stolen labour. Taxation on capital is simply an adjustment in living standards. The two are hugely different.
The idea that the rich would just go fugitive if wealth were taxed is a total fantasy. Knightsbridge exists as a real place. I can cycle down the road and pop a letter through a letterbox. It might become marginally less attractive with a 1% annual tax. It might be that the economic boom caused by redistribution results in it increasing in value anyway.
Taxation should not be a 'membership cost' for society. It should be a fee levied on the very wealthy, not out of some sense of spite, but in order that the system continues to produce reasonable outcomes for everyone.
When you do that, then basic income can be argued for reasonably.
Right now, poor/working class people fall over themselves to come up with reasons why BI won't work because they don't want their tax burdens to rise.
Land and capital owners should pay tax. Those with zero net worth really shouldn't. Why?
Because taxation on labour is effectively stolen labour. Taxation on capital is simply an adjustment in living standards. The two are hugely different.
The idea that the rich would just go fugitive if wealth were taxed is a total fantasy. Knightsbridge exists as a real place. I can cycle down the road and pop a letter through a letterbox. It might become marginally less attractive with a 1% annual tax. It might be that the economic boom caused by redistribution results in it increasing in value anyway.