Yesterday I wrote one possible scenario concerning UBI that was quite positive in nature.
Let's now look at another view. Personally, I am very wary of the situation where an authority has so much control over the flow of resources. One can argue that it is not so different from now but, it is. The UBI is a measure to try and combat unemployment or, allow the unemployed to survive and perhaps get part-time work.
No Jobs, I want that
If the expected reality takes place, there will only likely be employment for around 30 percent of the population in the next few decades. And that 30 percent will be for the brightest and most creative only. It will be in areas where computers are unable to provide content.
This means that everyone else will be reliant on 'free money' from their government. Firstly, this will lead to some level of inflation that risks swallowing any benefit the helicopter drop has provided, especially if people do what I would expect them to. Upgrade.
We all want to keep up with the Jones' and if they have more than us, we want to close the gap. The UBI gives the means to close the gap to an expected life of happiness being, what the Jones' have. But, the Jones' also get the UBI and they will close the gap to the next family.
We have built ourselves into as consumer society that bases personal success on what one has, regardless of how they go it. So, if I drive a Honda to feel successful, I need to upgrade it to an Audi. And if I have an Audi, I want to upgrade it to a Porsche. This means that everyone will upgrade, consumption will skyrocket but, it will be in the same areas that we already consider marks of success.
Essentially, within a short time, the 0.1 percent who own these businesses and have trained us to consume and desire consumption advancement will have their customer bases at every level grow. This will of course in time put us all back in the same position we are in currently except, still no jobs.
My passion is Farmville
The UBI could be used to create space for training and attempting to create a micro business from a hobby but again, human nature indicates this is unlikely for most. Currently, no one has the time to go to the gym, eat healthily, learn a skill. Even if they do have the time. Most people use their free time to bury themselves in entertainment instead. Social media, news, games, TV. The free space the UBI brings is likely to be eaten up and silently absorbed by the attention economy.
It could also be used of course as seeds to invest, but again, with so many people financially illiterate the chances of people investing wisely is very small plus, the sheer volume of capital suddenly available will create turmoil.
Turmoil of course is fantastic. Fantastic for those that are comfortable trading in turmoil that is. And who are they? That's right, the people that are already in that top 0.1 percent. They have the experience and emotional stability to take massive advantage of the trading noobs entering the market. But, next month the government will provide UBI again. They will quickly take that payment too.
I could do that, or...
As said earlier, this could be used to build local hobby businesses and both create jobs, help the UBI get spent locally and give some kind of life satisfaction as people earn from their interests. But, people don't want to work Most have spent most of their life trying to find ways to earn enough money to not have to do anything. They want to retire early, not so they can really get deep into something, but so they can travel and sit on a beach. Work is to be avoided at all cost so why start a business if it isn't for the money?
Now, the government control factors step in. Once they are controlling how the majority of people get the income to live, they can then dictate how they are meant to act and those that have no other income (the 70 percent) will be forced to conform. Health care services and infrastructure support could all become user pays and the 30 percent get preferential treatment as they can pay more.
Soon, there is no option for the poor but to try to make more money to live well but, what can they do for it since the only extra jobs are those that are for the best and brightest? Think about that.
A class gap and more
Rather than becoming a Utopia where people are supported to explore their talents and offer them to the community, it becomes a dystopian society where the class gap is absolutely enormous and there is no potential boat for anyone to cross the river. The ladders are gone to climb higher.
I see this because even if the economic system changes and a UBI is introduced, unfortunately, we as humans have not caught up. We still will believe that life satisfaction comes from collecting material goods and the material goods desired are not going to change. Our long history of authority based programming will force us into eating until we cannot afford to eat anymore and then taking a loan.
The loan of course is the same as now. It comes from the 0.1 percent that are also selling the products that we will spend the loan on. The system is not rigged however, we are just idiots that act like predictable trained monkeys.
Once we are in debt deep though, we still want what those above us 'enjoy' but we haven't got access to the real thing. No matter, VR has the answer and soon there will be the technology to immerse oneself into the virtual pool and experience all that one desires. But, once in, why come out?
This feels so good
Eventually, the jobless 70 percent will be all plugged into banks of VR and the 30 percent will be enjoying life free and wealthy as there bank accounts are filled with the UBI funds spent on immersion. But it does not end there.
The 30 percent are still caught in the consumptive competition cycle so rather than be content living in their small population Utopia, they will continue wanting to upgrade. With the 70 percent no longer able to increase consumption, the bottom of the 30 percent must be convinced to step into immersion in order to increase the pool.
In time, there will only be one person left that is 'awake' and controls absolutely everything on earth. But, at this point, life is utterly boring and they will take the step into immersion also. Now, with everyone willingly plugged into a virtual word that provides all the entertainment we require, there is no need to ever step out.
Where are we? The Matrix.
Please, stop it.
It is not just financial literacy that is needed to stop this future, it is an understanding of our desires, how we built them, how they are manipulated and whether they are required for our own happiness at all.
Desire is an attachment to an idea and as Buddha said, the root of suffering is attachment. What this means is that we have to step back and take a look at what we have chosen to be attached to and break all that are unhealthy, all. This includes what we think brings happiness, what we think is success, what we think Utopia is and what we think we are. A tall order no doubt for a population brainwashed into thinking one is successful when they can buy a new car. Can we do it?
My hope is that rather than Steemit buying into a consumptive cycle, it will become a community that supports the discovery of the self through all of the channels possible. at the very least, be a community that is geared to being in the 30 percent rather than the immersed 70. This requires a huge amount of personal responsibility and by the looks of things, there are going to be many, many, many challenges to face as that likely 70 percent are in here too.
What do you think? Too dramatic? Over the top? We'll see in time how society pans out but by the looks of people's attraction to entertainment rather then self-development, I am rather pessimistic. Again, this is just a brief overview of some areas and there is much more detail possible in each section that I will get to as time goes on. My view is that rather than accept the majority view and say, it'll all work out in the end, I will do what I can to act now.
At least, I try. You?
Taraz
[ a Steemit original ]