Why Universal Basic Income Is not the Answer You are Looking For

There’s been a lot of talk about Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a potential solution for a future where many jobs are replaced by AI and automation. But I’m here to tell you why I don’t think UBI is the answer for you, and why relying on government assistance is not the path to being an autonomous, independent, and free individual.

The Reality of UBI

First off, let’s be real - UBI is just an idea right now. It doesn’t actually exist yet, and we’re betting on something that’s still purely hypothetical. When (and if) it does come to fruition, it will likely be very basic, covering only essential needs like:

  • Food
  • Basic shelter (think tiny, no-frills apartment)
  • Clothing
  • Limited entertainment (mostly the free digital stuff like social media and Netflix)

The government wants you to have “free” distraction… because real entertainment - things like sports, hobbies, travel, and trying new foods - actually costs money. Keeping you preoccupied with free digital content is good way to keep a lot of people happ… I mean distracted.

UBI Is Likely to Be Digital (CBDC)

Another major concern is that UBI will probably come in the form of a digital central bank currency (CBDC). No, it’s not the “cryptocurrency” you’re thinking of. It’s a digital currency that’s controlled by the government and central bank. It’s the farthest thing from DeFi you can think of.

This is problematic for a few reasons:

  1. The money for UBI has to come from somewhere, likely taxpayers. But if most people aren’t working due to AI and companies are relocating to countries with fewer regulations, where will that money come from?

  2. Exchanging this digital currency for real money will be very limited, if not impossible. This will make traveling to non-UBI countries a struggle.

  3. Digital currency will be monitored and supervised. The government will watch how you spend it and may even restrict certain purchases. (Sounds a bit like a social credit system, doesn’t it?)

  4. Interest rates on digital currency will be controlled, likely starting with negative rates. This makes saving for the future nearly impossible, keeping you reliant on UBI indefinitely.

You’ll be in a codependent relationship with the government, your provider, for as long as you live.

The Potential for Government Overreach

It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where the government starts bartering with you, offering housing, food, and transportation in lieu of actual money. Picture this:

  • Instead of rent money, you’re given Project 8 housing.
  • Instead of grocery money, you’re given special approved food to pick up (or delivered for you).
  • Instead of money for a car, you’re given a public transit pass.
  • You’re allotted a small amount of “freedom token” allowance each week for discretionary spending (i.e. entertainment or doing human things in real world).

This is not the ideal outcome we’re hoping for!

What You Can Do Instead

So, what’s the alternative? I started this blog in order to avoid this. Here’s what I recommend (though I know not everyone will follow this advice, becuase, people are inherently lazy. If you’re reading this blog post, you’re probably not one of them and I have faith in you):

  1. Focus on your own income. Make it a priority to build a business or become a highly qualified expert in fields like AI, machine learning, and robotics.

  2. Aim for global income. Collect income from countries without UBI by investing, starting a business, or providing digital goods and services to their citizens.

  3. Serve developing markets. Human input will be more valuable in countries where AI isn’t dominant, and some smaller nations may reject automation altogether.

  4. Invest your current money. Buy liquid or semi-liquid assets like real estate, stocks, precious metals, or possibly crypto - things that will bring you money or can be sold for a profit in the future.

  5. Educate yourself on AI advancements. Keep tabs on the big players and the direction the industry is moving. You don’t want to wake up one day to find your job replaced by a virtual worker from a big corporation.

  6. Learn to integrate AI into your own life and business. We have to use AI to our advantage, whether it’s in content creation or other aspects of our lives and work.

Don’t sit passively waiting for someone to help you. Don’t assume the government will swoop in and save the day. And if they do, it won’t be on your terms.

This is my call to action for you. Take control of your own future, because no one else will do it for you.