2 Comments From basic income to social dividend: sharing the value of common resources

  1. AvatarStephen Stillwell

    An international banking regulation, that requires sovereign debt to be backed with Commons shares, with the interest payed on that debt distributed to the shareholders, and prudent restrictions to safeguard the capital, could provide a global BI.

    For example: A Commons share valued at $1M could then be distributed to each adult human on the planet, for deposit in trust at local banks, without significant cost to anyone.

    Each sovereign entity would need to make the interest payments on their debt, possibly raising taxes, but that would be required for a BI of any kind. This distances the taxing arguments from the BI arguments, and since this utility would only provide access to debt, complaints of supporting the third world with money from the developed nations are rendered moot.

    Practical example: A country with a population of 1 M, along with state, municipal, and some level of individual participation*, could borrow a maximum of $1T (equivalent) against it’s citizens shares. With a debt, and a treasury of $1T, the country can develop a financial plan to increase revenue to cover the $12 B in annual interest payments.

    *Individual sovereign debt, as secured loans against that portion of Commons share that would be used for housing, to purchase a home or farm, and/or secured interest in workplace.

    Presented as universal economic enfranchisement, it is no longer a hand out, but a reasonable return on commonly owned property, and since the property commonly owned is the globe, the system to recognize and distribute that property is reasonably global.

    What seems a very large amount of money created by this new debt, really only provides a functional level. With the new money held primarily in cash reserves and secure investment, the actual increase to money supply is likely to be offset by increased production and asset valuation, since the spending of new money is restrained by labor and material availability. *Observing that this limit also defines “full employment,” that would also be a reasonable expectation.

    Tying all fiat currencies to one base stabilizes exchange, particularly with proportional increases in flow.

    Additionally, increasing the total amount of recognized wealth/available credit, can functionally dilute the current corporate control by enabling groups of humans to compete.

    And this utility doesn’t care what government is in control, just that each person gets to spend a share, and cast a vote in what gets produced.

    Thanks for your service, you have written a very good piece, and thanks for your kind indulgence.

  2. AvatarStephen Stillwell

    “…key ideological difference between benefit systems based on social insurance and the provision of a guaranteed basic income for all…may reduce people’s capacity to act together, by encouraging them to provide for themselves with their income rather than promoting social solidarity, collectively funded services, and shared solutions.”[7]

    A basic income funded with sovereign debt in this way would place the newly recognized wealth in trust accounts at banks chosen by the individuals. In this way, economic and investment decisions will be dispersed to the community level, actually “promoting social solidarity, collectively funded services, and shared solutions.”

    The Basic Income would certainly encourage and facilitate self sufficiency, and ideally self actuation, but the recognition of and simple distribution of Commons shares in this way would significantly enable local decision making concerning social needs and aspirations.

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.