I still support universal basic income, like MLK, Jr. suggested once. The only problem would be if people refused to work. And they said that people did refuse to work, during COVID because they didn't have to. I didn't even know that could happen. Well like I said once, maybe universal basic income. IOW a comfortable middle class existence for all who work, at any job. And then welfare-level benefits for those who choose not to work. Nothing bad, but just enough to get by.
Because of a lack of holistic understanding of what a human being is essentially , there are no proper parameters or metrics to determine a person's prosperity or poverty encompassing all factors. A poor farmer in a village maybe happy and content with cultivating his farm and garden , his daily contact with sunshine, fresh air and nature , having a relaxed lifestyle with all the time for friends and relatives and community, pooling of resources during crises and emergencies. A billionaire on the other hand, would be needing prescription drugs to switch off his stressed mind, and get some sleep. He would live in paranoia of his business competitors , not having necessary time from family or friends and so on, with a mansion surrounded by high walls cutting himself off from the rest of humanity. Imo, technological development has ensured that all the basics and needs in life are met easily. What is beyond that is that is not needs but greed. A man may have 10 million dollars in his account, but he will consider himself poverty-stricken for not being able to afford a 25 million dollar mansion, private jet and superyacht. He is bound to suffer on comparison with more richer millionaires owning the same. The western standard of prosperity, with a rich man owning mansions, private jets and fleets of expensive cars is also not practical for the rest of the world to aspire to , considering the havoc already perpetrated on the fragile environment leading to imbalance in nature, deforestation, loss of flora and fauna,global warming and natural disasters on an amplified scale which can lead to major disasters and catastrophies in the future. As Gandhi himself stated, " Earth has enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." So obviously a standard of prosperity which is compatible and friendly to the environment and society, and is holistic in nature, should be aspired to, rather than the present lopsided one.
And also some more thoughts on this general subject. People claim programs to benefit the poor are socialism. But I don't know, socialism is more a term they use in other countries. We really don't have it here. But if you mean government ownership, what about public libraries and public schools? What your medicare and medicaid? And what about corporate welfare for that matter? And you don't want the government redistributing your wealth? But when you give a dollar to homeless person on the street, are you redistributing it? Or are you just helping someone in need? Get over it already.
