The Real Break Down
I appreciated the way that Dr. Trost broke down the truths and the true, non-bias, definitions of the things that he was talking about. within those, he was able to state his opinions and back up his thoughts on the topics without discrediting the real definitions, something I believe a lot of arguments lack truths. I agree with Dr. Trost's thorough process of creating a system that is focused on universal basic dividends rather than an income. As a person who only just learned these definitions, from someone who has little to no knowledge on this topic, UBI sounds like a plan that I could live off of forever. I could quit my job and just utilize the cash inflow from the checks that I am acquiring from the UBI. UBD gives this a whole new meaning. It makes me believe that it is a system in which I am getting a lump sum of money based on certain criteria that I can utilize for something that I need. I appreciated the way that Dr. Trost then led the conversation into describing how at many times people misunderstand political situations as extremes, socialist or communist. I agree the UBD is a median between extremes.
The Quote
The one quote that had me thinking the entire time was, "our freedom can be measured by the number of things we walk away from" (Vernon Howard). Dr. Trost then went on to describe this quite relative to the topic stating that the way that our current systems are, locks people into place cages them at a standstill and they no longer have the option to walk away from their "things" (Trost). I strongly agree that the way that our broken system works currently doesn't give fair opportunities to people to change their lives for the better. Dr. Trost provided an example of underperforming school children who are stuck in under-providing schools forever but with UBD it gives them hope and an option to end the cycle and so they can walk away from high crime areas, underperforming schools, poor housing or, bad jobs (Trost). Although I am not one who typically understands the numbers, Dr. Trost's plan that he laid out seemed sufficient and feasible in my eyes. His facts and deduction on how the system could work changed my perspective on my response to this topic. I didn't initially believe that it was possible for the government to ever put forth a system such as this but after seeing the numbers and hearing the positive effects that it could have, I truly believe that this could be a system that everyone could be on board with. I believe that Dr. Trost’s differentiation between dividend and income would incline the government to be more willing to look into a system such as this. The government fears that people will just think that they can stop working and live off their money from the UBI, but with UBD I believe it could have the potential to sell as something that wouldn't make people feel as if they could stop working. It would make more people feel like they have a chance, an opportunity to change their lives for the better.