The California city once known as America’s foreclosure capital has decided to give out free cash to residents in an attempt to combat poverty.
Stockton will become the first U.S. city to experiment with Universal Basic Income, giving 100 residents $500 a month for 18 months – with no conditions or strings attached, Fox News reported.
The testing phase of the program, set to launch by 2019, allows recipients to spend the money on anything they want in the hopes of eventually ensuring that none of the 300,000 people living in the city lives in poverty.
Just 80 miles east of Silicon Valley, Stockton’s median household income of $49,271 is below the national $57,617, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates with one-in-four residents living below the poverty line in a city that was bankrupt in 2012.
“We have a bunch of folks starting off life already behind, born into communities that don’t have a lot of opportunity,” Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs told CNN, noting the “looming threat of automation and displacement.”
Programs similar to the Stockton experiment have been tried in Finland, Cambodia and Ontario Canada, according to CNN.
But how will a city strapped for funds afford to give away money? Wealthy Silicon Valley moguls apparently are filling the gap.
Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes contributed $1 million to the experiment through his Economic Security Project.
“It is such a fundamental idea behind America that if you work hard, you can get ahead, and you certainly don’t live in poverty. But that isn’t true today, and it hasn’t been true in the country for decades,” Hughes told CNN. earlier this year.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently tweeted in favor of the idea.
Universal income will be necessary over time if AI takes over most human jobs
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2018
And Virgin billionaire Richard Branson thinks America must dole out free cash in order to combat income inequality.
“A basic income should be introduced in Europe and in America,” he indicated in an interview with The New York Times. “It’s a disgrace to see people sleeping on the streets with this material wealth all around them.”
“I think with artificial intelligence coming along, there needs to be a basic income,” he added.
Critics believe pay should be earned and the pilot program could actually increase poverty, taking away the incentive to work.
What is this crap I’m hearing about Universal Basic Income?
How can you just throw money into poor people’s pockets and expect to them to be launched into prosperity?
How do you replace incentive, dignity, belief in one’s self, and happiness?— Joseph Xavier (@playnwithsizzrz) July 10, 2018
So more government and more government dependency? Yes. That’s worked splendidly up to this point.
— Thenews2 (@Thenews21) July 9, 2018
aint nothin more expensive than something that’s free
— The Devil You Don’t (@desertkev) July 9, 2018
Only in California, folks. Only in California.
— Tom Porter (@Tmporterjr) July 10, 2018
I am pretty sure Nancy Pelosi would call $500 crumbs.
— Patti Nota (@PattiNota) July 10, 2018
Many Stockton residents who spoke to Fox News indicated they would spend the money on bills and groceries rather than save it.
“I would actually take my kids on a trip to Disneyland,” one man said.
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- ‘Are we next?!’ Kilmeade breaks down shady FBI actions, concludes Trump justified in his outrage - August 30, 2022
- Grandfather throws down with aggressive kangaroo that attacked his dogs, but who really won? - June 4, 2022
- ‘My name is Dr. Robinson’: Proud abortionist snaps at Chip Roy calling her ‘Miss’ during hearing - May 19, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
