Quote Originally Posted by gimmick View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Dan Druff View Post

Welfare needs reform, but that's not the reform it needs.

How is it so expensive to "apply assistance to whenever your financial situation changes"?

Wouldn't it be a hell of a lot cheaper to only give people aid when they actually need it?

It is not the government's responsibility to keep shoveling free money into the pockets of every citizen just in case they hit upon hard times. Assistance should come as needed, not in the form of "take this money every month, because who knows, maybe you might need it at some point".
Assistance comes when it's needed even with the model i presented. The applying process is expensive in relation to 12 yearly bank transfers because it can't be automated currently. It involves decision making and human supervision/contact. You also have what 120+ different welfare programs. It's expensive because it's a shitshow. Oh and something like half your citizens get more in government assistance than they pay taxes right now. This isn't a case where only a small minority needs support and rest are just fine. Small minority is fine on their own.
Where are you getting your numbers that half of Americans are getting more government assistance than they pay in taxes?? I'd love to see a source for that one. I don't know the exact numbers myself, but that couldn't be right, unless you are going to massage the data by including public school/college as "getting government assistance", or crap like that.

Your model still does not explain why people who don't need UBI should be receiving it, nor does it explain the benefit of doing so.

Welfare needs to be reformed. I have already stated that. UBI is not the solution because it creates both a government dependence model and unjustifiably pays able-bodied people for simply existing.

I have a huge problem with the government distributing any form of assistance unless such assistance is completely necessary.

The basic policy should be, "Do everything you can to help yourself first, and if it is not possible to help yourself, we will help you."

It should NOT be, "We will help you whether or not you really need it, and whether or not you have the ability to help yourself."