Free Republic

Giving every adult in the United States a $1000 cash handout per month would grow the economy by $2.5 trillion by 2025, according to a new study on universal basic income. The report was released in August by the left-leaning Roosevelt Institute. Roosevelt research director Marshall Steinbaum, Michalis Nikiforos at Bard College's Levy Institute, and Gennaro Zezza at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy co-authored the study. [snip] These estimates are based on a universal basic income paid for by increasing the federal deficit. As part of the study, the researchers also calculated the effect to the...

The recent crash of the Cypriot airliner brings some points to mind. What if the pilots were dead and there was no one to fly the plane? The answer is using automated flying/landing using instrumentation. Everyone is familiar with the concept of the autopilot or may at least be familiar with it. Pilots might explain the difference between VFR and IFR flying -- in one case, the pilot relies on being able to see for flying, the other the pilot relies on instrumentation. Many airliners have incorporated features for landing using instruments only. It would be possible with technology to...