Families could get $1,000 a month as part of Austin's first guaranteed income program

[TexasTowelie]

Government aid programs often come with a laundry list of do-nots. For example, if you receive SNAP benefits, more commonly known as food stamps, you can’t use them to buy to-go food, soap, vitamins or medicine.

So, what if the government stepped back? What if it offered people cash without stipulations?

That’s the question Austin City Council members will consider this Thursday, when they vote on the city’s first universal basic income, or guaranteed income program. If approved, the city would send $1,000 a month to 85 families over the next year.

Mayor Steve Adler, who supports the item, said he was initially skeptical of giving families taxpayer money without any direction on how the money should be spent.

Read more: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2022/04/families-could-get-1000-a-month-as-part-of-austins-first-guaranteed-income-program/

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Every single time this has been tried, sending money to a family

every month, the results are completely positive. The idiots who think those getting money will waste it, or drink it away, are totally wrong. Having enough money to live a decent life is basic.

I've been poor much of my life. Right now I'm 73, retired, living on a small pension, Social Security, a couple of annuities, and investments. I know, this makes me far better off than a lot of people, but my income is still below the median. Because I live alone, cook and freeze large quantities of soups and the like, I can live relatively cheaply. I will repeat that I've been poor much of my life, and so I understand the constraints of not having much money. Which is why I whole heartedly support giving people money.