from Hacker News

What Problem Does UBI Solve?

by Suncho on 6/24/25, 7:44 PM with 1 comments

• by quantified on 6/24/25, 10:40 PM

  Absent an ok standard of living, an ever-growing population with extremely wealthy living on top becomes an angry, resentful rabble. Fundamentally, people need to occupy their time. If there ever was "abundance", people could be busy with soma or with shit-work. They'll be less trouble with soma, and that means UBI. Aka credits or scrip. But when it's recognized by its original name of "welfare", it won't happen at all.

  That said, I bet $1000 (2025 dollars, adjust for inflation at the time of payout) that in the next 15 years no meaningful "abundance" of a human need will appear (meaning both plentiful and inexpensive or free). AI requires that it be paid for, its profit will be first and foremost. Making memes is not a human need, and making some resource abundant for a few by depriving it for the many is also not abundance.