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Dr. King's dream: A basic income guarantee is still something America needs
mercurynews.com ^ | August 23, 2013 | Allan Sheahen

Posted on 08/23/2013 12:33:54 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

As we mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, we are sobered by the fact that 46 million citizens are living in poverty and that we have become two Americas, one for the rich and one for the rest of us.

King had a solution to poverty and to the bleak economic conditions faced by many Americans today.

"I am now convinced that the simplest solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a new widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income," he wrote in his 1967 book, "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?" "A host of psychological changes inevitably will result from widespread economic security."

In 1969, a Presidential Commission recommended, 22-0, that the United States adopt a guaranteed annual income, with no mandatory work requirements, for all citizens in need. The report was buried and forgotten.

The concept of a Basic Income Guarantee is not discussed much anymore. But it remains, as the late economist Milton Friedman always maintained, the most practical and sensible way to end poverty and provide economic security to all Americans.

Today we have more than 14 million Americans unemployed with no evidence that we can create jobs for everyone who wants one. Machines are doing work people used to do.

Job creation is a completely wrong approach because the world doesn't need everyone to have a job in order to produce what is needed. When we say we need more jobs, what we really mean is we need more money to live on.

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


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1 posted on 08/23/2013 12:33:54 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Yep. What the country needs is socialism. Because it’s worked so well wherever else it’s been tried.


2 posted on 08/23/2013 12:35:19 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Tailgunner Joe
We could start with a basic profit guarantee for businesses and work from there.

What these idiots fail to realize is that without profitable businesses there are no jobs or taxes and there is nothing to redistribute.

3 posted on 08/23/2013 12:36:40 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Who knew that one day professional wrestling would be less fake than professional journalism?)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
In 1969, a Presidential Commission recommended, 22-0, that the United States adopt a guaranteed annual income, with no mandatory work requirements, for all citizens in need. The report was buried and forgotten.

We have always had a guaranteed annual income. The amount is set at $0.00. Everything above that amount is left up to the individual to determine.

4 posted on 08/23/2013 12:36:58 PM PDT by eartrumpet
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Yep, that’s the answer a guaranteed income, yeah that’ll work . . . uh where does the money come from to guarantee this pipe dream?


5 posted on 08/23/2013 12:37:10 PM PDT by rhubarbk (It's official, I'm suffering from Obama fatigue!)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: eartrumpet

Perfect!


7 posted on 08/23/2013 12:37:39 PM PDT by rhubarbk (It's official, I'm suffering from Obama fatigue!)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
Cloward-Piven

Bankrupt the welfare system. Break everything. This the way they plan to convince Americans to beg for a Communist society in which everyone is supported by the government. No real money -- just a "guaranteed income" that keeps you alive. No freedom. You will be controlled, but at least you will be cared for. If you behave.

They are pushing very hard for this. Time grows short.

8 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:06 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (21st century. I'm not a fan.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Where do these loons think money comes from?


9 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:17 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (I aim to raise a million plus for Gov. Palin. What'll you do?.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Why not just make the income guarantee $100,000? Everything would be peachy, right? It’s so easy/s


10 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:32 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (When Injustice becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.-Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Here we go

The next campaign for the Democrats

Guaranteed income, free ObamaCars, free healthcare, free housing etc etc


11 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:32 PM PDT by GeronL
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To: Tailgunner Joe

How is this different from the “right to work” guaranteed by communism?


12 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:42 PM PDT by Berosus (I wish I had as much faith in God as liberals have in government.)
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To: Billthedrill
Yep. What the country needs is socialism. Because it’s worked so well wherever else it’s been tried.

They interviewed an idiot at an OWS demonstration and she said something along the lines of how North Korea is better than America because the state ensures 100% employment. Can't make this crap up..
13 posted on 08/23/2013 12:38:46 PM PDT by Wanderer99
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To: Tailgunner Joe
"one for the rich and one for the rest of us"

BS. There are the super-rich (many of them Democrats), the affluent, the comfortable, the struggling, the working poor, and the ones on the dole. It is NOT simply the 1% versus everyone else.
14 posted on 08/23/2013 12:39:11 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Martin Luther King’s hand picked “lieutenant” and successor was Jesse Jackson. Why should I care about anything MLK had to say or think?

If MLK were alive today, he would be in the same league as Al Sharpton. He would be nothing but a race pimp. Why do so many people on Freerepublic hold him up to be some sort of God?


15 posted on 08/23/2013 12:39:53 PM PDT by Cowboy Bob (Democrats: Robbing Peter to buy Paul's vote.)
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To: Billthedrill

You work per agreement, guaranteed you get paid. Solved. Easy.


16 posted on 08/23/2013 12:40:51 PM PDT by i_robot73 (Give me one example and I will show where gov't is the root of all problems.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
2 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.

It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. ...

17 posted on 08/23/2013 12:40:53 PM PDT by oldbrowser (We have a rogue government in Washington)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

The Cato institute has recently shown that a head of household can get several times more benefits than working for minimum wage.

So, what is the incentive to work, or even learn a skill and work your way up the ladder?


18 posted on 08/23/2013 12:41:37 PM PDT by justlurking (tagline removed, as demanded by Admin Moderator)
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To: Berosus

They forget that the “guaranteed income” comes with a “forced labor” job

Do they think once their socialist paradise is created you can sit on yo’ ass collecting money for nothing?


19 posted on 08/23/2013 12:42:24 PM PDT by Mr. K (Lies, Damned Lies, Statistics, and then Democrat Talking Points.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

As I recently saw on a post...”When I finished school I embarked on my get rich quick scheme, I got a job”!

This Country is on a slide to nowhere now...if you want to increase the rate we are going, adopt a STUPID scheme like a minimum basic salary for all. It just will not work. Oops, used that dirty word again.

PS If it is adopted, say good bye to Bat!


20 posted on 08/23/2013 12:42:39 PM PDT by BatGuano (You don't think I'd go into combat with loose change in my pocket, do ya?)
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