The Vision

The Basics

Practically overnight the system could arrange and switch on a simple UBI, with a few non-invasive strings attached. Citizens could opt-in to receive a transaction card for foundational goods and services, e-replenished each month. Merchants could apply to accept Basics as payment, to be deposited for a same-as-cash value at their bank. ATM sized redemption machines can be placed at post offices, banks, markets, etc. The technology already exists to auto-print receipt paper with bar-code scans and transact cash & coin (a standard in modern casinos,) and by including a card reader, QR scanner, and a secure connection, in theory, the technology to support poverty elimination is ready to be implemented. 

 

Main Focus-

The guarantee to each citizen would be enough to provide:

-a residence (with postal address, front door with lock, bathroom with toilet/sink/shower,)

-kitchen (with sink, refrigerator, oven, and stove,)

-food assurance (focus incentive on spoilage prevention and improved logistics,)

-reasonable rate of utilities per individual, and

-reasonable transportation assurance.

 

Included in the deal, but not transnational, should be medical coverage for all emergencies and essential care. An additional stipend per child until age 18 would be welcomed by parents and guardians; youths in public school could also receive age-increasing allowance, and incentives for high scholastic marks and grade completion.

 

Primary Currency Is Still Earned & Spent

Those who earn a paycheck or receive structured or investment income, continue to save and spend as they please. All adult citizens are entitled to receive basic UBI currency. Although Basics can't be spent on luxuries, guns/ammo, casino gambling, prostitution, drugs/alcohol, etc., they can be redeemed (by members of the creative collective) for primary currency, money that can spent on anything- provided a willing party. Basic units expire, which provides incentive for the ambitious to join the collective to earn a multiplier rate of exchange, individualized and improved along the way, by participating in limitless options from civic and municipal projects- to classified-section type odd-jobs, or even developing one's own invention or creation. For those who don't join the collective, yet have more than enough, they'll likely be more willing to support others with their surplus and expired basics.

 

Zero Tax Burden On Basic Currency

The notion of taxes could become completely reformed. Imagine the ideal with far less waste, mismanagement, and misappropriations intending to improve efficiency and effectiveness going forward. Property tax and sales tax could still both be levied and collected by local governments- though ideally at decreasing rates, and income tax could become less necessary and therefore less burdensome given a more appropriate and effective economic system. When visualizing an economic maturation of capitalism, trial and improvement trumps trial and error, and this generation has the additional lessons learned from existing case studies of what's come, and failed, before.

 

Cutting The Glut From Our Systems

Let's actualize far less bureaucracy, and far more effectiveness by dismantling the conglomerates and hierarchies that lead to propagandized group think. A "Tree Of Democracy" (introduced in the article The Blueprint) could overshadow the current corporate media that seems to focus on entertaining an audience through emotional shock and stimulation, instead of what should be its chief purpose- honorably and respectfully informing an inquiring public- concisely. Most would prefer if the populous drives the narrative and sets the agenda, as opposed to a Wall St. enslaved, ad-fueled, rigged-rating driven, camera-and-spotlight aimed like cross-hairs to where only two opposing microphones polarize instead of unite. 

 

Make People Less Compromised

Imagine a pleasant vision of "big power-of-influence gained-through-intimidation" getting weeded out, where war and military exploitation have become obsolete. Until then, transitioning the militaries of the world from operational to disarmament seems to be the most appropriate path- where "defense-as-a-show without an enemy or willing combatant" could encourage people to enlist for peace-time training and organizational development. Opportunities that promote a solutions-oriented focus as opposed to a conflict oriented culture, with far less world-wide military spending, benefits us all.

 

“True heroes are those who bring peace. Those who maintain peace, peacefully, are essential.”

-Wise Proverb

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​Public Trust Housing

Consider that in the 1970’s the average U.S. house cost ~8,000 hours of minimum wage work, yet today it’s over 40,000 hours. Does it feel as if each new generation’s house is being robbed before they even take possession of their homes, if they can afford to purchase as opposed to renting their living spaces?   

 

Public Trust Housing Meme Text, Expanded

Imagine instead of paying rent or a mortgage, citizens could choose to pay into a collective housing option as a Public Trust, where anyone could contribute via simple terms to accrue equity on rent payments, and earn credit for upkeep and maintenance. Unit stays could be short and long term, posted on an inclusive and transparent online portal with attempts to optimize city neighborhoods for social harmony. Non-profit insurance fees could be accrued and paid forward to acquire and remodel properties that become available in newly-zoned neighborhoods, with priority for distressed units. Instead of realtor, bank, and landlord fees, local placement agents could assist the house-mate matching, moving, and settling-in processes with the goal to leave no citizen un-housed, and maintain a small housing surplus. There could be multiple levels and types of living situations available, from basic to luxury and beyond, single-units to families-with-children to all-adult households. By designing a system to level-up participants until settled and satisfied, while improving the base in perpetuity, both the real estate and culture gain value - which could be likened to an ever expanding collective inheritance as opposed to the current extractive model that leaves too many humans homeless and victimized while neighborhoods become dilapidated and dangerous. Congress could make citizens' housing a priority via tax incentives, and by limiting the monetary amount any person or entity can earn on another’s primary housing. It would also be beneficial to develop a few new green-efficient metropolitan cities, in say, the USA’s deep south, midwest region, and mid-pacific coast. If better ways are possible, aim towards best!

 

Considering a Citizens Basic Income with Creative Currency Octaves and Public Trust Housing, how could an inclusive web portal become optimized? 

 

Suggested structuring: 

Base- Decent at worst homes, and zones for adults without kids.

Recovering- Wellness placement for those who need help with addiction or other recovery.

 

Maintaining- Citizens currently satisfied in their housing situation.

Seeking- A lateral move, whether across the street, another side of town, or across the country. 

 

Expanding- People seeking change, such as: kids on the way, or someone seeking to level up in land, living space, or luxury.

Contracting- Those seeking to sell property, reduce lot and/or living space, someone taking a step down from luxury.

 

Developing- Both new housing development, and remodeling projects.

 

Luxury living usually takes more to maintain such as manicured lawns and other maintenance, but when a large home is mostly unoccupied, there presents an opportunity to fill the bedrooms with young professionals, or perhaps live/work spaces for small enterprises and/or company teams. 

 

What other factors are important to consider? Regardless, it seems obvious that human beings as a whole could do much better than current when designing and organizing how humans are housed.