No end to it in sight, forever the contentious, and the past’s problems, too. This is no longer about sequestered conflict in twice-removed, under-developed countries ripe for the conquering. We are now a global consciousness, not a new statement, in the sense that the globe is connected like never before. That information travels faster than those who speak it. That those afforded the time and resources to learn, be involved with, or monitor this ever growing spectrum of said information and opinion are one step ahead of the game-- one that very well could have esoteric rules about pace of play-- but that can still lag behind like a person's body when they channel through vastly different hemispheric time zones, disrupting their circadian rhythms, as their autonomous physiology struggles to adapt, perhaps against a will determined to fight the inevitable tiresomity we humans endure daily, naturally.
So where’s the solution? What is the solution? Is there a solution? Not a final one, no. An ultimate one. The one in the core of the being of good-hearted people...A solution that won't turn out to be just another temporary one. Will this aggregate humanity that's living and breathing right now continue on with the temporary after the temporary after the temporary? Or will it meet with its own, new and improved, 'Greatest War' to provide this teenage century with enough stigma, loss and battle weariness so that we can get through another one?
Now, here comes the real crazy...
I have a proposal, if you’ll have me. It’s not a solution, by any means. Fringe thinking it will be, yes, but maybe those desolate wanderers, out on the salt flats of Hope, wanting to arrive at something worth listening to, need some fringe thinking every now and then…When everything seems so hard to balance…A mental governing move to see if we really can make it.
It’s really more of a social experiment than anything. But the outcome will provide more insight to, and into, everyday people (more stranger danger reconciliation) AND provide a social paradigm that will set standards and template for social reform for centuries to come.
It’s simple really. Not simple in the sense of feasibility, though. Simple in the sense that while being both a break from routine, and a re-enfranchising of those dissed, we’ll get to see what people are really made of. And after it’s well removed and tested and made statistic, 50 years from implementation, we’ll have the data. And no one will have recourse if they turn out to be a failure at it.
I propose that everyone, from the age of 19 on up, be given access to an account with the sum of $123,000, to do with as they will. No restrictions on how it’s spent. No tax applied when money is withdrawn. No hassle. No worries. A one time massive payout. This will not be a fixed social program. One and done and that's it. Let’s see if we really can work together as a true, human, republic. Representatives are still needed. Government will not collapse…Hopefully…But there will be a cull.
Now, while not saying I know all the intricacies, I think I can incorporate and effectively unite aspects of Socialism, Capitalism and Libertarianism. There’s no wipe clean of anything here. This is a last ditch splurge. Like a parade balloon bursting and it’s full of match-head capsules that are a super strain xanax/street-molly mix. This is the televised Big Bang.
Just to be clear: When I mean everyone, I even mean to include the super rich. This isn’t just a give-the-guy-a-break, weekend disco blitz. I mean to include everybody. Absolute equality. No preferential treatment…Within a country’s borders, of course…This isn’t a World wide plan…HAHAHAHAHAHA…By no means could THAT ever work…
Not.
A.
CHANCE.
(Opportunity for rebuttal is welcome)
By that, I mean, In no way will this eliminate inequality. But it very well could remove any kind of argumentative clause focused on the class system and its unfairness. $123,000 is the kind of money that changes lives forever. It facilitates individuality and community. It can strengthen families and reestablish trust amongst the toxified. Under the right kind of trustworthy scrutiny, that is. And decided by vote…obviously…
Structure and logistics aside, people will come out and vote for this. No undecided or unwilling to cast a ballot. People will come to vote a simple yes or no…Think of it as a shaky investment into the goodwill and future of humanity most of us think is there, but have never seen any evidence proving that we can really come together and bloom.
“It’s irresponsible!” Bellow the officials.
Maybe, but why are you more inclined to understand responsibility than the rest of us? Because you’re appointed? You’re only appointed because we need a system set up so the folks that don’t want to deal with it every fucking day, don’t have to. This could be a Socratic democracy, wherein, through mandatory self-examination under sodium amytal(condition of holding public office), and a purge and replacement of officials every 36 months( in an attempt to curb corruption), could eliminate some elements that Socrates was critical of Democracy for. (*if it works even 65% of the way I’m thinking. 65% is a passing grade in the subject of Everything. Wouldn’t you agree? Hope gives us those kinds of odds, at least).
Yes, some will overdose on the immediate gratification. But for all those that do, a tripled amount, maybe greater, will overcome and prove, what I believe to be is what most optimists believe about the human race: that we are good, and the right and just way will always prevail, however slowly...At least I hope so. I have no evidence or fact to suggest how people will behave if this social experiment were to be tested. Disastrous or Progressive? There will be advocates and refuters arguing the hypothetical results all the way up to, through and afterwards, no doubt.
Couple three caveats I will apply strictly: those under the age of 25 have to wait until their 25th birthday to access their funds, recipient must be a full-fledged citizen of the country participating for at least 7 years, must be more than 6 months removed from succumbing to a terminal illness (*if disease goes into remission, or is survived, recipient can claim after allotted time passes and falls into aforementioned categories. But recipient must have valid DOB within guidelines)
Again, sure, people will waste their money. It’s a lot of money. But I can’t stress how much I think most will exercise prudence. This is not a lightly discoursed idea. I really think this would prove beyond a doubt, what we’re made of.
It will promote both growth and collapse. Not, or collapse. And. A good kind of collapse though. The kind that make you think about rebuilding.
I know what you’re thinking right about now, and no, there won’t be a mass exodus of the working class. By and large people are sensible. Don’t you think so, too? Sometimes it’s a fucked up kind of sensible, but it still resides inside the definition. I’m not saying those more impetuously prone won’t go wild, but for the most part I think people will exercise rational thinking. It works both ways: the prudent will keep working, fending off economic stall fears, and the impetuous will blow through their grant and be back at the grind again with no one to blame…Mea Culpa their motto— if impoverished it is, impoverished it will be.
This idea is about those who could thrive, if it weren’t for anchoring setbacks of Life, or the chance to climb out of the hole, if not a little bit, all the way. Pay off debt, or the house, or the car, or the yacht, or the medical bills, or the gamble that didn’t turn the right kind of chance. Whatever.
Those whom choose to go back to school can rent apartments and pay for schooling without crippling student debt following them around for the rest of their lives. At least not as much.
Life’s a fight. Cumbersome days pile up. To that, there is no definitive escape. On that, I think we can agree.
Think of those burdened with the weight of raising children. They will get a much needed load lessening boost (some households may get $246,000! Maybe even more depending on the eligible dependants residing under one roof). People will invest, badly or successfully. The money WILL get redistributed in the economy anyways. Thusly keeping the machine going as well as relieving stress. How quickly the effects occur depends on how adept the recipients are with the “endowment”.
Now, let’s get to where the money come from? I think it safe to say that if people were to be given the option to vote on such a proposal they should be made aware that funding from other services will be diminished. Taxes won’t stop. They can’t. Infrastructure, maintenance, public services like ambulance, police, garbage removal, buses, various intrapreneurs that need to be put somewhere instead of a shelter of unplaceables, city workers(yes, city workers) and medical care(where applicable) will need to be be kept running. Squalor and Unruliness can’t be the order of the day. THAT just won’t work. Nope. Never will. We could try it. Might even be how this whole thing plays out. But we can’t bank on it. We can’t hope for it, or say that’s definitely going to be what happens…I mean, we could…But that’s pessimistic, right?
The government will take a hit, I know. A huge hit. But it will recover. I has to, doesn’t it?
I mean, if we’re already heading down this divisive path—not unlike the rest of historical evidence, I point out— then why don’t we start thinking way outside the box, right? That’s the point of all this conjecture, this thought process, isn’t it? To find solutions? Well, this is a damn fine start. It’s got everything we love: Endurance, Intrigue. Drama, Suspense, Justice, Equality, Faith, Chance, Redemption and Truth…If this was a movie, it would win best picture at the oscars.
For logistics, as the process will take a lot of preparation, registration will begin well in advance of implementation. Bottom line is: If you don’t register, you don’t benefit. Easy. Caveat numero uno, now that I think about it. If the only contribution a person knows they have to make to get this is sitting down for 15 minutes( wait times will not be approximated) to register, but chooses to procrastinate, then it’s nobody’s fault but their own…Mea Culpa…
Illa Anima Est (That’s Life). *researched, no one owns language
A cut back on defence spending, foreign aid, welfare will also shrink, if not vanish. The elimination of superfluous positions within the government is another must. Now, while that may stir protest, remember, the $123,000 will provide adequate severance packages for those deemed extraneous. They won’t be axed with prejudice, but with necessity(or rather, unnecessarity). And if they live outside their means…Well, too fucking bad. They won’t be the only ones; class be damned.
Again, by no means does that mean government will be completely disbanded. it’ll just be minimized— regulated, if you will. This venture will still need officials on both a federal and state/provincial level, and those of lesser stature(instructors, managers, babysitters, assistants, superintendents, janitors, security, marshals, overseers, foremen and rodent control experts).
And yes, I’m already there. I know the greedy and apathetic will be pronounced. But the empathetic and compassionate will shine with as much a force as the selfish will(they’ve just got to(if not for me, for themselves)). It’s one of the great curtain pulling points: that the egregious, normally undetectable, will come to prominence. Attitudes all around will both palliate and exacerbate— and therein lies the promise(all wrapped up and waiting to be discovered). It will separate people based on nothing more than their condition, innate or developed through Life when provided with a tidy alleviatory means.
Something else to consider: while no taxes will be applied to the $123,000 sum upon receipt by the individual entitled to it, it will be taxed if given as a gift. Inherited money follows the same rule on a % based value. Let’s say, 8.5%, just to have a negotiable number to start with.
It will incentivize those incarcerated to do their time amicably, stay straight and rehabilitate. For those imprisoned, an amount of $300, to be subtracted from the sum, may be added to an inmates commissary providing they undergo drug testing every month, and participate in an introduction to vocational training course (through books and video), and if an imprisoned person wants to use the time they owe society, and the money to which they are entitled, to pursue a correspondence course or any kind of higher learning, there will be specialists to facilitate that use of funds accordingly.
As for severe addicts and those of dire mental illness’. If at time of registration, the registrar observes extreme erratic behaviour, or feels cause to screen applicant for bio-chemical issues, then the applicant must submit blood and urine sample for analysis before the registration can proceed. If citizen is found to be in distress, or is dependant on debilitating substances, they will be provided with care and counselling to beat the addiction, and thus, upon success and under strict rules for use of funds, become admissible to the payout program. These are extreme cases we’re speaking about. Many can hide addiction well. That is not uncommon. And we can’t just pick and choose here. It has to be a pronounced visible display of addiction-irregular behaviour. If a person displays such behaviour and submits the required samples for testing and it comes back negative, the applicant will be allowed to proceed with the registration. Because we all know, some people don’t need drugs to be visibly unhinged. As for those whom keep their ill-mentality under wraps, there will be a short questionnaire to determine if their share needs to be handled by a willing third party. NO SOLICITING AID. THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF SUCH ACUMEN WILL BE PROSECUTED.
As criminal record checks will be mandatory, they will not affect the applicants right to the payout program.
Forfeit of the $123,000 sum can occur if the recipient is found guilty of nefarious use of the funds: drug trafficking(all but marijuana(marijuana will have been completely decriminalized)), prostitution (which should be legalized and regulated(think how many budding entrepreneurs could get an enterprise off the ground with the cash)), illegal gun distribution, sophisticated corruption...Any unlawful use, really.
Sure, it’ll cost trillions of dollars. But as the saying goes, ‘You’ve got to spend money to make money’. And people love money. We sure do. And we love to spend it, too(obligatorily & discrentonarily)…
Hey! A poor and askew job comes from those that think they can do the job of many, for many. And we already have a pretty good understanding of how things have been going for the last few millennia, collectively…I Hope.
So c’mon, let’s do the Alleviation Shuffle. The 21st Century Reparations Flip-Out. The Debt is ours, all together. There is no Government without Tax. We are the Function. Always have been. Let’s be Radical. Let's see what kind of tomorrow we can build today. #shitpoeticslogan
#andiactasthoughmoneyreallyhasatangiblemeaningwhenitsalljustfuckingpaper
1st Amendment- 6/12/19- Explain to me why it can't work.
*Subject to amendments ©