Week 12 Reflection -- Universal Basic Dividend

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So, in my response I said, “It happens because the government wants the citizens to be able to afford living so making a payment to the citizens to afford the cost of living. That is of course different for each state. California the cost of living is high and in Oklahoma it is very low.” I was wrong. UBI everyone gets the same amount. Dr. Trost said that if the UBI doesn’t cover your living expenses then you probably need to get a job. I think that earning a certain amount of income to help out is a good thing but to fully depend on it might not be the best option. Since the amount is the same everywhere, my last example California and Oklahoma, you could probably be comfortable with the money in Oklahoma but need extra earnings to survive in California.

One thing I found interesting was how Dr. Trost said that it would be more beneficial if every citizen received the benefits. Including children under 18. Now it is people who are older than 18 years old. He also said to make sure this gets enforced it should be a law or a constitutional right. During his presentation I was thinking about the benefits of this program. If children start earning the benefits the financial stress of college or trade school will not be there anymore. As we all know college isn’t free and it will never be. If this financial burden can motivate more people to get higher education that can be very good. I was wondering how do they ensure the kids to receive the money? Will it be like social security and go into an account they can take out later?

Going back to depending on this income, I think it will encourage more to get jobs. If it is a family of 4 then they will have the parent’s income and children’s income (hopefully they save some of it for the kids) they could probably do well with that amount. Over time things are going to start to add up like Christmas, birthdays, new cars, medical emergencies, and different things. The funds will eventually run out and you can’t wait that long for more income. A job will be the greatest option because you get the income from the job and the UBI. UBI is to ensure citizens of basic needs like food, water, shelter, clothing, and any other necessities. Of course, the government can’t tell citizens how to spend money, but it shouldn’t be on things you want. Another source of income should be a way to buy your wants.