Renewing our Promise to Workers Act of 2014

[TNF]

This bill will undo the unconscionable attack upon the minimum wage launched against the Atlasian people by right-wing extremist shua.

[TNF]

No, because a negative income tax is not a universal basic income grant.

[TNF]

A universal basic income grant is just what it sounds like: a universal grant, to everyone. Everyone would receive a lump sum of money every year for use on whatever they wish. I think that should be enough to bring them over the poverty line and allow them to live comfortably, which is why I would want it set at at least $30,000, subject to no tax, and adjusted with inflation.

[TNF]

A universal basic income grant is just what it sounds like: a universal grant, to everyone. Everyone would receive a lump sum of money every year for use on whatever they wish. I think that should be enough to bring them over the poverty line and allow them to live comfortably, which is why I would want it set at at least $30,000, subject to no tax, and adjusted with inflation.

What is the practical difference between that and a negative income tax calculated to bring bring people up to a certain level, augmenting what they recieve through other sources?

The practical difference is that not everyone benefits from an NIT, while everyone benefits from a BIG.

[TNF]

This bill has nothing to do with a BIG. It is about restoring the minimum wage.

[TNF]

What is more important TNF? Boosting the minimum wage, or boosting the living standards and incomes of the poor and working class?

There's no reason why we can't do both.

[TNF]

If we have a UBI, I don't think we need an $18/hr minimum wage. That would make the minimum possible income (with a job) around $50,000, and it seems like that could lead to some inflation.

Your point? Inflation can be controlled fairly easily. We tax away excess wealth at the top and reduce working hours.

[TNF]

The lowest I think we could reasonably go at this point is a 20 hour workweek. We've got a 32 hour workweek right now, but with the massive increases in productivity we've seen since the 1970s, we could theoretically go down to a 15 hour workweek, iirc. But I think 20 is good because it's an even number and it would utterly and totally end unemployment.

[TNF]

4 x 5 = 20

Four five hour days or five four hour days. (I'd prefer the former)

[TNF]

What about 5 5 hour days? You get 25 hours a week. The reason I liked the idea of 20 was that you could double the amount of shifts in a given work day.

We've already eliminated the 5-day week. I'd rather us not go back to that.

[TNF]

A vote on a motion to table this bill is now open. Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

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Nay

I apologize for not responding in this thread, I must have missed it. I would like to continue debate on this bill and at the very least put it to a vote.

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One vote either way will make the difference here.

[TNF]

This bill has been tabled.