"Minimum Guaranteed Income" for 700,000 persons (Greece)

capital.gr ^ | 10-15-14 | unattributed

[dynachrome]

The implementation of the "Minimum Guaranteed Income" (MGI) measure is the most important social reform, Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis said on Tuesday during the MGI presentation attended by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Government Vice-President and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos.

According to AMNA, the crisis has revealed in the most obvious way the distortions, the gaps and the contradictions of the social protection system in Greece, Vroutsis noted, adding that the system was inefficient and incomplete both socially and economically. The MGI comes to give an answer to all these issues, he added.

The implementation of the measure will start on a pilot basis in 13 municipalities and will cover a 7 percent of the population, that is 700,000 persons.

"Today is a special moment because the greatest social reform in the country that is changing what we have known about the social state is presented. It is an innovative measure that is the pillar of the social solidarity of tomorrow," Vroutsis underlined.

On his part, Samaras stressed that "today we are launching in Greece a tool of social policy for the protection of the weakest, for the fight against poverty and the reintegration of those who risk being left out."

This was made possible, Samaras said "with the surpluses of the country and the fact that Greece can cover its social needs on its own." He also noted that the government is putting things forward, which were unthinkable until some time ago, when they ought to have been done, and that reforms make the country more efficient and fairer. "Social justice promotes development and consolidates democracy in our country," the prime minister said.

[98ZJ USMC]

Welfare keeps people poor; its discourages work and it doesn’t promote well-being of individuals and families. No one has any incentive to do better out of fear of losing their meager government benefits.

Its good to see conservatives and liberals get behind a social initiative that shows a great deal of promise in attacking poverty and social injustice. The pilot program looks worth the while. I wish Greece good luck with it.

Just what do you think a minimum guaranteed income is?

[goldstategop]

Its a floor below which no one can fall. The idea is that if you work, you can keep whatever you make above the floor and still keep that basic income - after all its a guarantee.

Welfare operates on the reverse principle. You get a small amount of money that’s not worth to live on and if you make more at work, you lose what benefits you do have.

Conservatives and libertarians are right to attack welfare for getting many things wrong but the idea of social justice and uplifting every one is both humane and necessary. The debate is over how best to achieve it.

[Bruce Kurtz]

“This was made possible, Samaras said “with the surpluses of the country and the fact that Greece can cover its social needs on its own.”

Greece was closer than a gnat’s ass from going bankrupt a couple years ago, they were bailed out twice.

And according to BlackRock back in Jul 14, “Greece is the likeliest country to go bankrupt, even surpassing countries embroiled in civil strife and tension, such as Egypt and Ukraine.”

[Moltke]

The only “surplus” I could fathom would stem from bailout funds from the EU or the IMF. I.e., not a surplus in real-world terms.

But I suppose some portion of the Greek electorate is lapping this up as God’s own truth. “I want, therefore I deserve, therefore I’m owed” = social “justice” per many a priest.