Poor Canadians to receive free basic income

[Loki]

So people who are responsible and productive are once again punished for being responsible and productive?

Nobody's punished from what I can see. Everybody wins. For example, lots of poor people will have more spending power, which could boost local businesses.

[Dick]

OP, please remove my uncle's picture. Thank you in advance.

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Nobody's punished from what I can see. Everybody wins. For example, lots of poor people will have more spending power, which could boost local businesses.

The person punished is the person who has to pay a higher tax rate to take care of people who are adults. It rewards irresponsible people for being irresponsible.

[BeerBaron]

So people who are responsible and productive are once again punished for being responsible and productive? What's the incentive to get a job if the guy waking up at 7AM and coming home at 7PM and dealing with all the stress that comes from having a career is paying that dude's bills?

This is the typical uninformed "conservative" outlook. As I stated before, and something that can be easily googled in about 5 seconds, homeless people cost the taxpayer more than this. That's only the monetary costs, then there is the social issues ect ect.

Since I work in the security industry, in downtown Vancouver, I deal with the homeless all day long, and I can tell you, once you are homeless there is pretty much no getting out, so you have all the issues and the fact that, that person is now stuck in that situation indefinitely.

Will some people use it to be lazy or drugs or drink all day, sure, but most will just go on about their business and spend it. If it removes 50% of the homeless then it'll be a huge success, and a cost saving one.

[BeerBaron]

I think the 1300 should be on top of accommodation - which should also be provided (basic) for those who cannot afford it. Canada is rich enough.

I would be ok with that. I want the entire program to go to citizens only, we don't need to be inviting 3rd world muslims in with a free money billboard.

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

This is the typical uninformed "conservative" outlook. As I stated before, and something that can be easily googled in about 5 seconds, homeless people cost the taxpayer more than this. That's only the monetary costs, then there is the social issues ect ect.

Since I work in the security industry, in downtown Vancouver, I deal with the homeless all day long, and I can tell you, once you are homeless there is pretty much no getting out, so you have all the issues and the fact that, that person is now stuck in that situation indefinitely.

Will some people use it to be lazy or drugs or drink all day, sure, but most will just go on about their business and spend it. If it removes 50% of the homeless then it'll be a huge success, and a cost saving one.

When you took those five seconds to google did you consider what exactly is behind the costs of a homeless population and that this 'income for being an alcoholic or drugged out homeless man or woman' wouldn't have much of an impact on that cost? A homeless person actually makes that amount just from panhandling.



They're not going to use that money to rent a basement apartment and save the city money on homeless shelters. They're going do exactly what they always do when they have money: get wasted. When people are wasted they tend to get themselves in trouble. The only thing that will change is panhandling will be less profitable because people will know they receive an income for being homeless. All those other problems will exist. Shelters won't go away. The problems they cause when they're wasted won't go away. It certainly won't effect the crazy ones and a large majority of homeless people are bat-shit crazy from years of abusing drugs and/or alcohol and, of course, are those that are crazy that refuse to take their medication. All it will be is an another insane tax burden on people trying to raise a family and more useless government jobs created to administrate.

[BeerBaron]

When you took those five seconds to google did you consider what exactly is behind the costs of a homeless population and that this 'income for being an alcoholic or drugged out homeless man or woman' wouldn't have much of an impact on that cost? A homeless person actually makes that amount just from panhandling.

Panhandling fluctuates, we had a big sting on it a few years ago around christmas when a reporter went under cover and made some 1500 a couple days before christmas. Now, that money doesnt come all at once and certainly cant be depended on. I deal with the homeless all day and this is how their day goes generally. wake up, start withdrawing from drugs, panhandle, once min amount of money is obtained buy heroin, get high, repeat.

Youre point actually reinforces my point, if they are making 40k panhandling, and costing 40k to the taxpayer, then giving people a base amount to eek out basic necessities is a cheaper win win if you stop just half of them. It's irrelevant why they are homeless, they still cost the same regardless of the reason and still impacts everything around them.

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Panhandling fluctuates, we had a big sting on it a few years ago around christmas when a reporter went under cover and made some 1500 a couple days before christmas. Now, that money doesnt come all at once and certainly cant be depended on. I deal with the homeless all day and this is how their day goes generally. wake up, start withdrawing from drugs, panhandle, once min amount of money is obtained buy heroin, get high, repeat.



Youre point actually reinforces my point, if they are making 40k panhandling, and costing 40k to the taxpayer, then giving people a base amount to eek out basic necessities is a cheaper win win if you stop just half of them. It's irrelevant why they are homeless, they still cost the same regardless of the reason and still impacts everything around them.

My point doesn't reinforce your point. I added on to my previous post.

[Óttar]

The naysayers here remind me of Neil Cavuto and the rest of the fat, red-faced pricks that ask stupid questions like, "Who is going to pay for your free education, etc.?" Bill Gates has enough money to buy a three bedroom house for every homeless person in America. Enough said.

Having a basic guaranteed standard of living encourages civic and work participation because citizens are bound by a social contract to help their fellow citizens. In a cutthroat capitalist country like the U.S. people do not feel any connection to one another; they are merely islands unto themselves. It creates isolation and alienation. People are not only alienated from the products of their labor but from one another.

[Loki]

The person punished is the person who has to pay a higher tax rate to take care of people who are adults. It rewards irresponsible people for being irresponsible.

Taxes don't need to rise, a mere reorganisation of national budget should do the trick.