Why we should give everyone a basic income | Rutger Bregman | TEDxMaastricht

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Rutger Bregman (1988) studied at Utrecht University and the University of California in Los Angeles, majoring in History. In September 2013 Bregman joined the online journalism platform De Correspondent. His article on basic income was nominated for the European Press Prize and was published by The Washington Post.

In September 2013 Bregman joined the online journalism platform ‘De Correspondent’. His article on basic income was nominated for the European Press Prize and was subsequently also published by the American newspaper The Washington Post. In September 2014 his newest book ‘Gratis geld voor iedereen En nog vijf grote ideeën die de wereld kunnen veranderen’ came out.


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[ohwhatworld]

People don't want to be rich, they just want to be secure. Food, a nice but modest home, family and friends. That is what people really want.

[jish]

To every naysayer about this. I'll give you an example of how well it's worked. Back in 2008, a German catholic church did a social experiment by giving each individual within the African town of Namibia, the Equivalent of $12 US dollars, which to them was enough to survive each month comfortably. They did this from January of 2008 and ended it in December of 2009 (about 2 years). What they discovered is that it not only helped the people, but the people used it properly, they didn't squander it, they didn't stop working, but the economy boomed and not only did crime go down immensly, but education rose as more students went to school. This alone is proof that it can work wonders and even proves that most people will not abuse it.

[Itsdnvn]

$1000 dollars a month would pay majority of my basic bills. I live very frugally and with my bills paid, I will be able to use 90% of the money from my two jobs to spend more time with my family (I see my parents once a year because they are out of state and I cannot afford plane tickets and my car is too old to make the drive), it would allow me to finally pursue the things I love (Personal training, spending time outdoors, etc.)

UBI would create a healthy social environment for everyone in this country by taking the boot off our throats just to survive. I’ve become introverted because I know I cannot afford things so I’ve reclused myself to sit at home, go to the gym, go to work, and maybe hangout once a week when I can afford it. This will spark the creative genius and so many others minds and will revolutionize our society

[MrKirbinio]

now that I think about it I don't want to be rich .. I just want to be free

[nvheesify]

I personally do not need a basic income, but I thought about what it would do for me. I am pretty sure it would increase my job mobility and geographic mobility. It would take away some of the fear and worry surrounding changing jobs. I would gain more, and more diverse, work experience. I would choose more innovative and more risky fields of work. Which, all in total, would make me happier anymore productive. I would also be happy for other people to have a basic income because I would not be confronted with people in dire need every day. I would rather spend my charity work time on helping people educate themselves than on trying to keep people from starving.

[TheTTstudio]

ANDREW YANG will make it happen!!! Let's do this everyone. Vote for Andrew Yang for the next president of the United state!

[elliotkim]

Anyone else here because of Andrew Yang?

[jakegamesnake]

Basic income won't kill incentive because people can earn more money by working. It'll just make people happier because they won't have to work just to pay the bills. They can choose jobs that they WANT to do.

[narekounanian]

Universal basic income would certainly solve many major problems of the world and pull millions of people out of misery.

[keithpanton]

A line in particular stood out for me 'each man given this money knew what would be best for him'.

This is why we don't need food stamps, restrictive benefit payments on cards, and voucher systems.  Give a poor man cash, and you'll see a man who knows how to get the most out of that money.  Sure, a minority will 'waste' it, but the majority will do what they can to help themselves, and we shouldn't hamstring that ability by locking assistance down to only the ways we feel the poor should be allowed to help.

[CartoonManWhoo]

ANDREW YANG in the US is the only candidate for this!

[JoliArtist]

If quantum physicists are right and this is in fact a simulation, then a basic income makes sense. Even "The Sims" starts every player out with a modest home, simple furniture and a few simoleons in the bank.

Same with monopoly: everyone starts off with $1500 plus $200 whenever you pass go. The game would be a lot less fun if one player started out with negative -$500 and another player started out with a small loan of a million dollars from their father...

[albertdaza]

Wow, !!! That's amazing... I'm living in the Philippines where majority of the people are struggling against poverty and no one seems to care about all of what you've said..no one, including our politicians and government.. Thank you for the enlightenment, Mr.Bergman..

[peterwarner]

After contemplating what I would do if I was given enough money to cover my living expenses, I'd immediately move to working 3 days per week and go to university to gain the qualifications for more meaningful and rewarding employment.

[richasinh]

Poverty is not lack of character, it is just lack of money - amazing insight !! May there be prosperity in every life 💐

[TanPham-snfc]

We should go a step further by making foods, accommodation, health care and education free for everyone if we are going to abolish poverty. These are the basic needs of a society.

[sonicbroom]

"The Greeks in their era of greatness had only contempt for work: their slaves alone were permitted to labor: the free man knew only exercises for the body and mind. And so it was in this era that men like Aristotle, Phidias, Aristophanes moved and breathed among the people... The philosophers of antiquity taught contempt for work, that degradation of the free man, the poets sang of idleness, that gift from the Gods." -Paul Lafargue

Automation + Basic Income = Liberation

[summondadrummin]

One thing People ought to note is its the flow of currency which drives the economy. The Basic income would be the equivalent of making the desert bloom where it formerly was well a desert...Technological unemployment is inevitable and already happening... Also simply people we need to experiment and The Basic Income is a great Experiment!!

[Orf]

9:00 poverty is not a lack of character. It is a lack of money.

[tranquiloSU]

It’s not left or right, it’s Forward. We are the owners and shareholders of our country.