Show Us the Money
I am an advocate of a very simple idea, that low income Americans should be granted a guaranteed annual income. The idea has been around a long time and was even proposed by President Richard Nixon. These funds could be used however the user deemed fit and would replace categorical programs with a multitude of rules. The advantages are many:
1. All the funds flow directly to the individual, no middleman.
2. It puts the responsibility for the used where it belongs, on the individual.
3. It is administratively simple.
4. I housing and other low income programs it gives the recipient the choice of living where they want.
There are examples of this type of approach working. Both the Social Security Program, and Low Income Tax Credit provide direct transfers of funds to low income people and have brought millions of people out of poverty. Unfortunately, vested interests have lobbied against the type of change I have suggested. It is time to begin anew. Written by Paul Dribin
The St Louis Contrarian 