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Should there be a coronavirus universal basic income? | The Tylt
Should there be a coronavirus universal basic income?
Experts say mitigating the coronavirus outbreak will require prolonged periods of social distancing and other non-medical measures to prevent further outbreaks of the virus. The goal is to avoid swamping hospitals with critical patients. The total number of patients who can be treated at any given time is limited by the number of ICU beds, ventilators and other specialized equipment available.
Mitt Romney floated the idea of giving every American $1,000 as a short-term stimulus. This would give the economy a dose of money, give Americans some immediate relief while our leaders figure out the next steps. Some go further and say the government should make regular and larger payments to every American—a universal basic income.
However, this would be a huge undertaking for the government to implement while facing the coronavirus crisis. A one-time $1,000 payment would total $3 billion. At the end of the day, the money would have to come from somewhere—it may be a better idea to focus resources on directly mitigating the outbreak.
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Should there be a coronavirus universal basic income?
The idea has a lot of practical value in assisting public health efforts.
#TimeToSaveGovtMoney
Instead of a full universal basic income, some are suggesting it be means tested in order to better steward taxpayer money.
#TimeToSaveGovtMoney
Others are rejecting it outright, saying it is a radical, socialist and ultimately un-American thing to do.
