I see arguments against UBI, that it's just the ruling class trying to remain in power, that your landlord will just raise rent by that much. Couldn't the same arguments be used against raising min wage? See, here's my thing, I think UBI would just be the capitalists desperately putting the system on life support but why are leftists so against UBI but not against raising min wage? You're not a liberal, you know better that you can't vote for or against either one. If those in power conclude that's what they need to do they'll do it. It won't matter if you agree or disagree or who's in office. To me that seems like one of those societal contradictions like Mao talks about. Under fuedalism those in power were naturally the only ones with the power to change society, but they had no incentive to so they did what they could to remain in power as long as possible, but ironically the way they solved those contradictions either changed society or set the stage for societal change.
I just can't get worked up about UBI one way or the other, that's not a materialist way of viewing it. A materialist way of looking at it would be to figure out, is this going to be what the ruling class conclude to be the way they stay in power? If so, what effects will that have on society?
It would be better than what we have now, but it's not a long-term solution. And there's better ideas out there like a jobs guarantee.
UBI is a far better policy than a jobs guarantee. A jobs guarantee is functionally the same thing as welfare with work requirements (it's just that the government will get you hired), while UBI is welfare without work requirements. There is absolutely no left-wing case for a jobs guarantee being better than UBI. A jobs guarnatee might have second-order effects that harm unions as well: workers on a jobs guarantee will almost certainly be paid less, can't bargain for wages, and can have their job role changed at any moment. That will pressure existing public-sector unions.
I know Bernie ran on a jobs guarantee and Yang ran on UBI and obviously Yang is an asshole and Bernie is cool but sometimes :heartbreaking: . A jobs guarantee is the natural conclusion of Clinton-era welfare reform, locking people out of their livelihoods if they don't work full time.
Maybe you're right, I haven't studied either in depth. I'm for any plans that provide a decent living for everyone without means testing.