[harryf]

Our ideas about motivation are shaped by self fulfilling prophecy; most people are on the planet a working jobs which are, at best, a compromise for what they want to do with their lives. As a result staying motivated is hard because you're ultimately doing it just for the money.

So yeah; let's give large numbers of people a chance to try doing what they want with their lives. Yes it will not be easy. More education will be required, some will need support to not fall into drug abuse etc but ultimately it could lead to a better human condition

[michaelbarton]

I very much agree with you. Related to the parent comment I think it's not so much about killing their motivation, more a case that many people's skills will no longer be, or already are not needed. My simple theory about the current political anger in the US is that it's not so much money, though still important, that hurts people from unemployment. Instead I think that it is feeling that you are no longer needed by society or the people around you that hurts the most. I imagine that it must be existentially distressful to feel that you have nothing to contribute and very likely never will again.

The Dalai Lama puts it better than I can:

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/04/opinion/dalai-lama-behind...

My guess is that in additional to a basic income, you'll need to find a way to make people feel that they are needed and useful. I think it's easy for the men and women on HN, who tend to be the go-getter type to say that they would start up a business or take up painting. However I think we could all probably learn learn a little from the unemployed factory worker in Akron Ohio about what would they do with basic income, unlimited free time, but limited job prospects.