Spain is to roll out a universal basic income (UBI)

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That's an actual social problem of all socialist societes, both "totalitarian" and "civilized" - development of a professionally unemployed class.
That's why I'm more for "free services" instead or "ready money" form of socialism elements.

Universal healthcare is the way to go.

This acknowledges the basic dignity of each person.

Doubt it’ll directly effect the functioning of the EU either way, there may be a behind closed doors row if the German contingent at the next Council of Europe meeting think it’s overly generous: but most likely it’ll all be storm in a teacup level.

Although if you ever get it in the US you’ll need to watch closely how politicians of both parties “reform” it over the years...

[sarcasm=snark]

No one would ever embrace the "money for nothing" ideology -- no one is that greedy, lazy or stupid.  I mean, why spend the rest of your life en casa eating home-made tapas and slurping down sangria when you could get up, get out, get a job and earn an honest living?  I tellya, there is nothing attractive about being handed a wad of euros to spend any way you want.

[/sarcasm]

I predict that Spain's economy will tank within five years, and that the E.U. will be sorely tested by a flood of Spanish-speaking immigrants from their southwest regions.

Wow ... It will be déjà vu ... all over, again ...

I love the idea in theory. I'm sick of working at a regular job. I've done enough of it. I'd love to get paid to pursue my own interests and hobbies and just live my life. I do realize it's illogical to believe that I could expect leading that kind of lifestyle by expecting that someone else pay for my dream to do so.

For future reference.

https://www.spainaccountants.com/tax-rates



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https://tradingeconomics.com/spain/corporate-tax-rate

The Corporate Tax Rate in Spain stands at 25 percent.

How so?

It isn’t money for those who can’t earn for whatever reason.

It’s money for everyone that has been earned either by higher earners, or more likely in advanced economies; automation.

Why shouldn’t citizens prosper from the automation that’s eliminated many of their jobs?

Whether in the form of UBI or universal healthcare and tuition free university etc why shouldn’t modern humans benefit from the modern output of their nations?

UBI has been experimented with in multiple countries & regions within countries. Canada was running their own experiment in Ontario but afaik it was shut down by the Ford gov’t prematurely so results of the study are inconclusive.

Another I read a blurb about recently indicated that not very many more people were working, but they were all happier and healthier.

I think the results may vary nation to nation depending on the culture of the people there. Or even region by region, hell, even micro-region. I could name areas of cities that would treat it like a welfare cheque to blow on drugs and alcohol, and others that would funnel it directly into some sort of investment vehicle. Probably the same holds true all over the world depending on the financial situation and mentality of the recipients. Hence studies providing averages etc.

Since many studies or short term trials of UBI have apparently taken place around the world, can anyone give examples where the process has been successful and has continued as practice?

I only know of two projects of this kind ongoing: both are run by charities and distribute in selected places in Africa (Uganda, DRC & Sierra Leone), it tends to only have minority bipartisan support in most democratic countries: enough to get the occasional year or two year trial but not enough to run it further.

But what if you could work less hours and have a better balance of work and pursuing your own interests, hobbies and just living your life.

Like imagine instead of spending most of your time at work, you spend more time on your hobbies and interests but you still also go to work.

People don't need to work 40 hours a week in order for the economy to function. UBI is one way in which the 40 hour work week can be done away with.

I'd rather not work at all. Would that be possible under the UBI system?

If the UBI amount is all the money you need or desire, then yes. Some will opt to be starving artists, others poor students. Etc. Just like now, not everyone will work.

As someone else posted about African countries, the only studies I’m aware of are short term/cut short.

For a true idea how people function when they get money for nothing long term we’ll have to turn to the trump & Hilton family class and ask them. They have generations who’ve simply been given inheritances or allowances for no exchange of labour. I bet they think it’s great for them but a non-starter for you.

https://commodity.com/debt-clock/spain/

Spain's Debt is ~ 1.4 Trillion Euros

"Interest Payments Per Year 59,740,429,819€
Interest Payments Per Second 1,894€
National Debt Per Citizen 30,130€
Debt as % of GDP 116.20%
GDP Of Spain 1,206,426,331,145€
Spain Population 46,528,308"



"the ECB took up debt swaps and quantitative easing strategies, removing much of the cost of rescuing the banks from the Spanish government. However, that strategy has resulted in a lot of hidden debt that Spain doesn’t record on its national debt, but will need to be paid off by someone someday."

"What facts should you know about Spain's national debt?
You could wrap $1 bills around the Earth 5,927 times with the debt amount. If you lay $1 bills on top of each other they would make a pile 166,270 km, or 103,316 miles high. That's equivalent to 0.43 trips to the Moon."

Do you wish there to be more like them?