[suoduandao2]

Back when 15$/hour minimum wage was being widely argued for, I always thought 7.50 min wage and 7.50 UBI would be a much better proposal. Much more minimum wage jobs worth creating at that point, and no disincentive to do them.

[phmqk76]

Sure. Along with price controls, so companies pass the savings onto consumers, instead of just making obscene profits, right?

[suoduandao2]

I'd see that as a separate issue and not be in favour of holding one good reform hostage by demanding another.

[saithier]

Why should my tax dollars subsidize businesses who don't want to provide enough incentive for people to come work for them?

I'm all for a UBI, but it should be enough to live on, and not (effectively) just the government paying wages on behalf of companies who don't want to pay for labor.

[Pet_Ant]

> not (effectively) just the government paying wages on behalf of companies who don't want to pay for labor

Well the arguments is that there are jobs that aren't worth doing at the current minimum wage. Imagine someone working in a garage who might be willing to hire someone for a $2/hr to fetch tools for them, but at $15/hr they would just rather get up and walk across the shop themselves. $2/hr is enough to cover transportation to work, so the UBI is used to bridge that gap. There are existing programs like this now for the developmentally handicapped.

One of the main divisions of UBI is whether we require people to work no matter how demeaning (informed by the protestant work ethic) or whether it should guarantee people a certain level of dignity (informed by social welfare mindset).

Not taking sides, but this is a schism that everyone in these conversations should be aware of.