Basic Income Guarantee Will Be Key Issue for Andrew Yang in 2020 Elections, by Mark Erickson

Capitalism in America has created social conditions that ills the land. Capitalism in America needs regulation and rethinking. Why does America, the world’s richest country, fare poorly on the “happiness index” whereas the democratic socialist Scandinavians consistently dominate the top five and all four of the Nordic countries rank in the top ten, according to the United Nations?

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/16/these-are-the-top-10-happiest-countries-in-the-world.html

One solution to help those left behind by America’s version of democracy is a basic income guarantee (BIG) aka universal basic income. Governments across the globe have been toying with the idea for years, and some, e.g., Norway, uplift mankind through the management of sovereign funds. Desmond Tutu and Martin Luther King advocated for BIG as a partial solution against poverty. Alaska implemented a BIG idea decades ago. When the Alaskan oil spigot was about to burst, its governor, Jay Hammond, did not want 100% of oil revenues to go to corporations. His idea, the Alaska Permanent Fund, granted resident Alaskans an annual check from oil proceeds, and the program continues to this day. Did not mention that socialistic program during your political campaign run, Ms. Palin, right?

I recently heard an interview with Andrew Yang: www.yang2020.com. He is an idealist, lawyer, son of immigrants, entrepreneur, and 2020 Presidential candidate. Yang endorses BIG. In the interview podcast located on his website, which I believe is a “must listen,” Mr. Yang talks about his past experiences, successes, failures, and ideas for the underclass, the working class, economic self determination, and the future health of America. In this connection, I have been a member of USBIG for at least 10 years. Look early for “Widerquist” at https://usbig.net/about-us/ Widerquist’s father is a former pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church of America. (I attended college with Karl’s brother and have remained in contact over the years.) Karl’s doctoral dissertation and current teaching, research, and writing focus on BIG. Yang has my early vote!

– Mark Erickson