These are two of my neighbors here in the elusive paradise (hell?) of Santa Monica California. One gets UBI. One has UBE. UBI vs UBE. What’s the difference? Turns out, its profound. Allow me to illustrate.
I often run for several miles here, downtown, on legendary Palisades Park, and on and about the Venice Boardwalk, pre-dawn. Compared to the running scene in Manhattan, it is pathetic. There are, literally, more homeless people than runners (or walkers, or bikers, for that matter). In one of the wealthiest cities in America. Which got me to thinking…
Why??!? Well, one reason is the insane amounts of support infrastructure that hyper-liberal California gives — in terms of both cash and services — to placating the homeless. This is all, of course, in the name of “helping” the homeless – excuse me, the “housing challenged” – and/or “solving” the “problem.”
But anyone who has spent a hot second on it sees it for what it is. Homelessness, and homeless people, are not themselves the problem. They are in fact merely the external symptom of a far deeper societal ill.
One of my earliest hypothesis, which I still stand by, is that the homeless population is a direct result, or perhaps more accurately a counter-force, to the use of “the Algorithm” to control more and more of our waking lives and choices. As “normal” humans become mere zombies in service of the algorithms, and a higher and higher number of young men opt to stay indoors playing videogames rather than meeting mates at bars or playing sports with their brethren… the mental illness increases.
As the mental illness increases, the homelessness increases. As the homelessness increases, the drug (specifically, meth) addiction increases. et cetera, et cetera. It is an ever accelerating, self-reinforcing loop.
And what is the easiest external method to measure the impact of the algorithm of UBI vs UBE? My simple solve: Count the Waymos. I have literally, in Santa Monica, watched the homeless population and aggravated assault cases increase, month over month. Heuristically, it tracks pretty closely: The more Waymos travel the streets (they’re now at roughly >5% of ALL santa monica car traffic), the more homeless wander the sidewalks.
Which brings us to our current topic:
Can UBI — Universal Basic Income — “solve” this dilemma? Will $5,000 a month to every citizen of the US — or in science fiction / Muskian / Andressenian fantasy the entire world — solve all of society’s ills?
My reponse:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAA.
Slightly longer response:
Ask any Native American tribe member under the age of 30 whose family gets a monthly payment from the casino operators. See how good its going for them. Ask what their quality of life is. Ask how productive and fulfilled they are with all that extra cash and disposable income.
UBI vs UBE
UBI vs UBE puts on stark display a key component of the pipe dream of “total abundance.” It is also a drug offered to lazy people who are struggling to find employment as AI eats more and more jobs, from scientists to white collar to computer programmers to call centers to gig workers.
But unfortunately, it solves nothing and creates a tremendous amount of NEW problems for both individuals and society. As Pope Leo so excellently articulated in his groundbreaking “Magnifica Humanitas,” just because AI can replace a given human’s job, does not mean that it should… even if it costs more capital and makes less profit to keep the human employed.
Why? Pope Leo argues: because many people find purpose in work. They find it a reason to wake up in the morning. And in purpose, one finds dignity. People want, and need, jobs. Even lowly or dangerous ones. They might not know this. Many street sweepers might tell you, if given the choice: “would you rather get $60k a year from the government to do absolutely nothing, or work 40 hours a week sweeping streets?” Most would opt for the free paycheck.
Ask those same people 12-36 months later, and I believe a very different answer will appear. Especially combined with a self-assesment of happiness and fulfillment.
Put another way. A friend of mine once sold his company and “retired” at age 32. He had a net worth well into the 8 figures, and did not have to work another day in his life. And yet… after 2 months of downtime, he had started another company and was renting office space and hiring employees again. Building.
I asked him: “what happened? you could just sit on the beach drinking coronas… forever.” he replied: “Yeah, that was great. For about a week. Coronas on the beach? Cool. Great. Gets old really fast. I was born to build, not to languish.” UBI vs UBE. Proof Positive.
That is purpose. That is a gift. That is UBE.
Universal Basic Employment. aka the Right to Work. Universal Basic Income is a bribery; a welfare to make people suck on the corporate teet for the rest of their lazy, purposeless lives. Universal Basic Employment — UBE — guarantees the right to work — at a true living wage — for anyone willing to show up.
By working for their compensation, we preserve dignity, and grant purpose. What people actually need, not what they think they want.
UBI vs UBE. The Pope got it. Now get it straight, American Kings and AI Emperors. Keep Humans First.