The instrument of freedom | Philippe Van Parijs | TEDxGhent

“The money that one possesses is the instrument of freedom, that which one strives to obtain is the instrument of slavery.” Well said, Jean-Jacques Rousseau. But has the time now finally come for the implementation of an unconditional basic income? This is the question that Philippe Van Parijs will try to answer in his talk.
Philippe holds doctorates in philosophy and social sciences, and is currently a professor at the University of Louvain. He is involved in various initiatives that aim to change the current social and political situation and published many books. In 1986 he convened the conference that saw the creation of BIEN, then the Basic Income European Network and now the Basic Income Earth Network.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@jalem1066]

LET"S DO IT!

[@stephenstillwell1575]

Global economic enfranchisement may be achieved by requiring sovereign debt to be backed with Commons shares, that may be claimed by each person on the planet, for deposit in trust with their local bank, as part of an actual social contract. In this way each person will receive an equal share of the interest paid on global sovereign debt, directly from their bank, while sovereign entities will simply make their debt payments. This simple change provides the structure to recognize, distribute and secure the value of the Commons for the benefit of all people.

[@SHPNGGUY736]

An article stated a low 10% Tariff would literally raise 3 trillion a year. Raise that money and give it to the people of this country.

[@bagiee1]

Everybody sign for UBI petitions wherever you find them. Mass demand is the only way to make it sooner happen. UBI FTW:)

[@SHPNGGUY736]

Tax rates would not have to go up for anyone.

[@louisgraveline3354]

Where does all that money come from?

[@TheDaftMonk]

I recommend the RSA's report, "Creative Citizen, Creative State". It lays out a possible strategy for implementation of a UBI scheme in the UK.

[@velara314]

In the U.S. there is a lot of money wasted, a lot of money going to subsidies and a lot of money in surplus social security and other departments. You could also sell weed and use some of that, as Colorado has done, bigthink.com/ideafeed/colorado-must-return-surplus-pot-tax-to-public.

[@ryo1999]

Money is just an abstractions for goods and services. As products and services are increasingly provided by robotics and artificial intelligence establishing an unconditional basic income is not an issue at all. More than that, it's an economic necessity, to keep the economic cycle from being deadly impaired by the lack of consumes.

[@ShakinJamacian]

While money *is* an abstraction, those caught at in its illusions will not see this. Look at the poor or the rich, where these abstractions literally rule their lives. We're not smart enough as a species yet to really abandon money, for we can't even abandon God yet. Better to at least offer a basic income in a society still glued to money and in time, this will fade out.

[@JasonBurkeMurphy]

We could start by taxing things we need less of. If we tax carbon, other pollution, financial transactions, and extreme wealth... A BI is relatively easy to administer. We just have to want to do it.

[@SHPNGGUY736]

It should be administered to all adults 21 and over. Non millionaire and non billionaire. I feel it needs to be at least 36,000 a year. It needs to replace all welfare programs though including SS. We would use all the money we used from the old welfare programs as well as SS and implement a low 10% Tariff on imports. Pretty straight forward and simple.

[@tatianapadervinskaite2982]

that's Charles Murrey's idea, this is a different idea and a different outcome

[@brindelucidite6309]

Le RBI représente un outil numérique et une mesure adaptée à toutes sortes de situations (sans ou avec calamités) permettant modernisation, rationalisation et transparence du contrat social. Le RBI est aisément finançable, implémentable partout en 48 h (allez 1 semaine) et gratos pour sa gestion (pas un 1 seul fonctionnaire) : un clic de souris pour toute l’existence et permettra sereinement l'adaptation individuelle, sociale, économique, culturelle et écologique. Le RBI ne concerne pas une mesure infra-politique (droite contre gauche, le malheur des uns contre le malheur des autres) mais un outil et un projet civilisationnel ! Le RBI garantit le respect de la sphère privée, garantit et sécurise un socle de vie décent à tous les habitants, bébés et retraités inclus. Le RBI valorise toutes les activités non-rémunérées, bénévolat, éducation des enfants, tâches ménagères, personnes à charge, culture etc. C'est bien le RBI (intégré, mixte ou cumulé aux salaires : aucune importance car ceci ne modifie pas la "nature" du RBI juste sa "qualité") qui représente l'outil idéal permettant la transition écologique, la réduction (disparition totale) de la pauvreté et pacification et oxygénation du contrat social. Rousseaux repose tranquille ; le RBI, c'est crème ! Le RBI concerne l’intérêt général ! Le RBI est inéluctable, moderne, équitable et bienfaisant ! Le RBI est simple, écologique, efficace et solidaire ! Le RBI est aisément finançable ! Le RBI l'essayer c'est l'adopter ! Le RBI parce que nous le valons bien !

[@lepiota1074]

So,if everybody can say "no" to awful Jobs then,Who is going to perform them? Many of them are very much necessary in our societies and we cant afford to stopping them right now without a huge social negative impact. So unless machines can do the awful Jobs pretty skillfully,UBI wont be a real option. By the way: imagine that tomorrow UBI is implemented; how do you finance It,if people decide to stop working where there is a social need and "start searching for their passion"?It would be a total disaster, everybody would take their needed holidays with money on their wallets while all social tasks remain unattended....why would a worker go to work if he receives 1000€/month without breaking his back or without risking his Life on the Road,ir without poisoning his body at a chemical Factory or...even the wealth would find meaningless to struggle running their company if they can avoid stress and pressure while soending time with their family...economy would collapse. UBI is only viable when most of the tasks can be done by robots,not before.

[@lechaton4080]

With ubi "difficult indispensable jobs" who are currently poorly paid, will gain a revaluation. Wage will go up in this sector.

[@MrTracher7]

1) the idea is that everyone can say 'no' will lead to a transformation of the labour market, making those jobs less awfull. 2) regarding your second remarks, to avoid this UBI will/should be implemented gradually, so the market can adjust slowly. Also, remember that Van Parijs is from Belgium, and he's probably making this point in the broader context of europe where people already have paid holidays etc, so it wouldn't bring about a surge of people quitting their jobs. 3) you are right that if UBI is too high people lose intrest in work at all. UBI is ment to improve the labour market by giving people more real freedom. UBI is not meant to cover all your expenses, as this would undermine willingness to work.

[@SHPNGGUY736]

Let Capitalism be in the process.

[@teddybear-yx7rd]

Thats not how money works. There is no such thing as public money, only taxpayer money. In the "best" case you might be able to postpone this kind of debt for a couple of generations. People think you can just print money out of thin air, because that is what we have been doing for the past 100 years. In reality, at some point, some generation will have to pick up the bill.

[@DoTheAstralPlane]

That's not true. No generation will pick up the bill. I've never seen any explanation for some sort of mass government debt collection ever. The vast majority of debt isn't even debt to foreign governments either, so it's not as if China would come knocking in 20 years and ask the United States to pay up, and even then, there is most often mutual debt between two countries. I say this just weeks after the United States government pulled $2.2 Trillion out of thin air for coronavirus stimulus relief. People need to wake up and realize how money now works.