[weddpros]

I don't agree with you. If you find a job at 1200$/m you keep 1200$/m in your pocket, not 200... The real problem is if you get paid 80% of that for breathing, because of government assistance!

When you want to help some industry, you'll give subventions to it. It should be no surprise that subventions to unemployment lead to more unemployment!

France (where I live) has a track record : we almost have basic income (it's called RSA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenu_de_solidarit%C3%A9_activ...), unemployment rate is >10%, taxes are record high and growth is NaN.

Recently, I heard a lady (29 yo) tell me that her 1700€/m salary was not enough to compensate for the loss of social assistance. She decided to resign... but 1700€/m is the MEDIAN SALARY in France! 50% earn less than that!

[streptomycin]

I think you're confused about the difference between a basic income and a guaranteed minimum income. What you are describing is the latter, but what we are advocating is the former.

[weddpros]

I just tried to explain that even guaranteed minimum income can discourage people from working. Basic income will have even more severe counter productive effects. I don't see AT ALL why it would not.

[streptomycin]

No, it's the opposite. That's the main difference between the two, actually. Listen to Milton Friedman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3ZcF1YjZNs (he explains all this within the first 5 minutes).