[Rasmussen] 11% Think Government Should Provide Basic Income Grant for All

Rasmussen Reports ^ | 09/01/2011 | Scott Rasmussen

[fwdude]

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows that only 11% favor a proposal for the federal government to provide every single American with a basic income grant, or enough money to enjoy a modest living regardless of whether they choose to work or not. Eighty-two percent (82%) oppose this idea. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

[edcoil]

Chances are government will pass a law to do it. When was the last time a law was passed that benefited the vast majority of the taxpayers.

They saw we need to band together and get the majority vote but then pass nothing but laws that benefit the minority.

California dream act is yet another example.

[demshateGod]

Even thought that’s a scary percentage, it could be worse. There are probably greater percentages of Americans who hold opinions much more extreme than this one.

[Williams]

I GUARANTEE you many of the 11% are well off liberals. Have you ever spoken to these elitist phonies? They are the greediest smarmiest most self righteous pompous A-holes on Earth.

[mort56]

Look on the bright side. At the very least we have identified the core support for the Democrat Party.

[demshateGod]

Yes, the point I was making. The number is bad, but could be worse considering the number of idiots out there.

[Solson]

It is a HUGE mistake to assume only hardcore leftists believe this way. Get out of the FR cocoon and start asking around. This REPRESENTS 11% of everyone...plain and simple.

To assume its just leftists is dangerous and an over simplification of the problem before us.

[Mortrey]

You’re not going to believe this.....but then..maybe you will.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=OUj-m6Gq_2Y

[Mortrey]

Sorry—beware of the language in previous video!!!!

[Pecos]

King William and Kiska are way too tropical for them.

[cuban leaf]

You say that like it’s a bad thing.

;->

[cuban leaf]

—They should try Cuba!—

No. Not really. No. It’s bad enough here as it is. 8->

[GeronL]

free money for everybody!!

So where does this mney come from exactly?

[BigCinBigD]

Maybe there is a free lunch after all...

[Eddie01]

In the big rock candy mountain...

[GeronL]

“Modest living” is very subjective. In North Korea, most people there enjoy a “modest living” by government standards.

Millions die (modestly) when North Korea has a recession (communists call them droughts) like in the mid-90's.... oh wait, they are having one now too.

[ctdonath2]

The question: "Another proposal has been made for the federal government to provide every single American with a basic income grant. The idea would be to provide enough money for everyone to enjoy a modest living regardless of whether or not they choose to work. Do you favor or oppose having the federal government provide every single American with a basic income grant?"

I like to approach such nonsense by objective analysis, finding the outer limits of the issue and seeing how advocates react to "ok, so you'd agree to X? really? didn't think so."

Of late there is a FR thread on tiny homes. Short version is: one can get a decent livable 100 sq ft home (yes, you read that right) for $10,000, land extra. We can assume an equal amount for related expenses over 10 years. My tagline points to my blog on a related subject: you can live on $3/day for food. Quick juggle the math, assume capital expenses amortized over 10 years, generous round-up to catch other expenses, and I figure we'll be handing out $10/day.

$10/day.
Far from luxurious in our culture, sure, but enough for a respectable baseline which is 5x the world median income. It ain't "poor".

1/3rd of the population pays taxes. Assuming, in fairness, anyone paying taxes will thus be "assigned" two people to support. Federal income tax revenue is about $1T/yr. 200,000,000 people at $10/day is $0.73T, leaving $0.27T - just enough to cover federal debt interest.

Ya know, this could work.
There is just enough federal revenue to do it. (Bet the ones asking the original question and the ones answering "yes" didn't think it would work out this way.) Just dump all government spending outright, and redistribute that income tax revenue as a universal basic grant. What little revenue remains fulfills basic obligations of interest payments, a basic border-defending military (call up the militia!), and a tiny bureaucracy for miscellaneous other things; all other departments either self-fund (DoI parks pay for themselves, USPS customer-funded, etc.). Eliminate the IRS and just have the states & territories send the White House a total of 50+13 checks per year; let local jurisdictions figure out how to raise the money.
Voila: deficit eliminated, everyone gets a basic 5-times-world-median standard of living safety net, DC is reduced to four buildings (Capitol, White House, SCOTUS, and Pentagon), conservatives and liberals are satisfied alike.

So, people who answered "yes" to the lead question: you'd agree to providing every single American a basic income grant? really? $10/day, resulting in the complete elimination of nearly all other federal spending? didn't think so.

[Cheetahcat]

“They should try Cuba!”

Nonsense. Your wallet ain’t in Cuba.”

Good Point.

[Steel Wolf]

When you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always count on Paul to have your back.

I'm sorry, but if you feel that way, you should be barred from receiving public assistance, just on principle.

[Cheetahcat]

“—They should try Cuba!—

No. Not really. No. It’s bad enough here as it is. 8->”

You have a Point Fidel is trying to encourage Cubans in having a business.

[des]

And many of them don’t have land lines and don’t participate in surveys.