Short version: If it's a good idea, let them fund it through kickstarter.
Longer version: I am a big fan of unconditional cash transfers to the needy, provided it's done voluntarily, from private funding. GiveDirectly.Org has been showing good results this way, and I've been making a small recurring donation to them for a couple years.
Whether universal or not, my support goes away when it becomes a proposal for a taxpayer funded entitlement, though. I agree with you. It would be an improvement if it replaced existing programs, but that's never gonna happen. It stands 0 chance of being implemented "instead of" existing programs. It will only be "in addition to", which will perpetuate existing waste and also create a new target for bureaucratic skimming.
RE: Here's the Thing about the Basic Income Experiment...