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A California City Tested Universal Basic Income. Here’s How Recipients Spent the $500 in Free Money
Fortune ^ | October 3, 2019 | Adam Beam and Associated Press

Posted on 10/04/2019 8:20:21 PM PDT by fwdude

The first data from an experiment in a California city where needy people get $500 a month from the government shows they spend most of it on things like food, clothing and utility bills.

The 18-month, privately funded program started in February and involves 125 people in Stockton. It is one of the few experiments testing the concept of “universal basic income,” an old idea getting new attention from Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination.

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs has committed to publicly releasing data throughout the experiment to win over skeptics and, he hopes, convince state lawmakers to implement the program statewide.

(Excerpt) Read more at fortune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
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To: fwdude

“Two chicks at the same time, man.”


41 posted on 10/04/2019 10:24:36 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: fwdude
needy people get $500 a month from the government shows they spend most of it on things like food, clothing and utility bills.
If they have extra money to spend on those things, the people who sell those things will soon realize it and raise their prices to get that (extra) money.
42 posted on 10/04/2019 11:09:49 PM PDT by lewislynn (STOP SUPPORTING CHINA! DO IT NOW!)
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To: fwdude

Yep. Is there a law prohibiting from buying votes?


43 posted on 10/04/2019 11:20:25 PM PDT by OKITRUMP77
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To: fwdude

WTF?

How is it a “basic income” if it supplements working income? The husband was already making $25,000/year as a truck driver.

By the way, who the heck pays $14/hour as a truck driver? Seriously. It seems like retail pays that much. Driving trucks only pays $14/hour. What, did he only work 4 hours a day or something?


44 posted on 10/05/2019 1:00:14 AM PDT by Freedom_Is_Not_Free (What profits a man if he gains the world but loses his soul?)
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To: fwdude
But 40% of the money has been withdrawn as cash, making it harder for researchers to know how it was used.

In a totally unrelated story, prostitution arrests of "Johns" have gone up 40% in that town for the same time period. /sarc

45 posted on 10/05/2019 1:38:11 AM PDT by TheCipher (To my mind Judas Iscariot was nothing but a low, mean, premature Congressman. - Mark Twain)
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To: dp0622
I was in one of those “Dollar” stores the other day. Had to wait in line behind some of the locals ghetto rats. While waiting I noticed a large wall section of nothing but gift cards, I’m talking 5’x15’ section of nothing but gift cards. The young lady in front of the line was trying to buy cigs, and out came the gift cards. It took three tries to find some with enough credit for her purchase. Then it all made sense. The welfare crowd has found a way to convert their EBT income to spendable cash. The store is selling gift cards to welfare recipients. I thought welfare was meat, cheese, eggs? Only kidding😐
46 posted on 10/05/2019 2:33:14 AM PDT by 9422WMR
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To: fwdude

food, clothing and utility bills, nice try fake and phoney! They spend it mostly on booze, drugs and lotto


47 posted on 10/05/2019 2:38:03 AM PDT by ronnie raygun (nicdip.com)
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To: fwdude

It’s not “universal basic income” if they’re only giving it to “the needy.”


48 posted on 10/05/2019 4:10:01 AM PDT by Tax-chick ("The potential for miscalculation and chaos is substantial." ~ Kevin Williamson)
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To: ASA Vet

True.. I work with a lot of folks 30 and younger. I hear constant stories from many of them about their disability claim.
I keep thinking, honey if you think life is tough now, wait 20 to 30 years. This is a temp job for me... so maybe it’s not the same everywhere.


49 posted on 10/05/2019 4:20:04 AM PDT by momincombatboots (Ephesians 6... who you are really at war with)
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To: bigbob

40% is withdrawn as cash and is not tracked.

the premise of the story is a lie.


50 posted on 10/05/2019 4:27:12 AM PDT by Chickensoup (Voter ID for 2020!! Leftists totalitarian fascists appear to be planning to eradicate conservatives)
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To: Ken H

Not so much the murder rate but the Meth zombies. One scary citym


51 posted on 10/05/2019 4:32:30 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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Comment #52 Removed by Moderator

The purpose of this “small experiment” is as a proof of concept to justify further redistribution of public money.

The do-gooder billionaire fails to take into account that even a modest implementation will have an inflationary effect. Every dollar of public money spent on this will echo thru the economy as upward price pressure, requiring more and more over time.

There will be further disincentive for the recipients to find real lasting income.

Taxpayers will see this and be further disenchanted, widening the divide.

Don’t forget that taxes are slavery: if I work and you eat, I’m a slave.


53 posted on 10/05/2019 4:55:14 AM PDT by IncPen ("Inside of every progressive is a Totalitarian screaming to get out" ~ David Horowitz)
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To: fwdude

I’m furious. Words mean something.

“Universal” means for all.
125 people is NOT ALL!

You cannot test a UNIVERSAL thing on 125 people!

Doesn’t matter what they spend it on! It’s on a card. Now they have more money available to spend on cigarettes, dope, condoms and the ny times.

Now why it’s a failure. This “test” was not paid for by taxes. The real thing would be paid for by taxes. All those foolish enough to work would be paying for the lazy slobs.

If started, it would obviously start at twice that amount. Within months that would not be “enough,” and the creators of the plan would raise the amount. It would never be enough.


54 posted on 10/05/2019 5:15:43 AM PDT by I want the USA back (The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it. Orwell.)
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To: stylin19a
Yep.

Well documented.
55 posted on 10/05/2019 5:18:31 AM PDT by BraveMan
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To: fwdude

“We’ve decided to give each citizen a universal income of...”
“It’s not enough!!”


56 posted on 10/05/2019 5:23:10 AM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
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To: fwdude

This article is stupid.
All money is fungible. You can not say I spent this $500 on food, and I spent this other $500 on beer and cigarettes. Once the money is in the pot, it becomes a melting pot.

(I am not necessarily against beer or cigarettes, but you get the idea.)


57 posted on 10/05/2019 6:00:53 AM PDT by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting)
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To: fwdude

Um ... where is the incentive to work?

Who then actually “pays” for all this?


58 posted on 10/05/2019 6:13:30 AM PDT by _Jim (Save babies)
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To: _Jim

The welfare crowd most likely spent “their” money on drugs, booze, gambling and prostitutes. It is not likely that they were honest about their expenditures. This further proves that LIBs are mentally ill (as if more proof is needed).


59 posted on 10/05/2019 7:15:40 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp???)
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To: ChildOfThe60s

I left Calif for good in 2004.

Don’t miss it.

Won’t ever move back.


60 posted on 10/05/2019 7:16:23 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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