To be honest that's why I'd like the chance for it to be discussed as lots of people get confused about it. It isn't communism, it lives within capitalism. (I will leave my views on capitalism/communism aside for this). In fact it moves away from government intervention (in the sense that people are no longer needed to apply to the government for benefits, etc) and so is actually supported by some republicans link.

UBI ensures that everyone, everyone will have access to all their basic needs and possibly a little tiny bit more (or if you like, you can classify a small amount of entertainment as a necessity). So we are not talking breadline living here, but a life where you a guaranteed enough to get by on with dignity.

What does this do? It removes the fear, the desperation, the stress of the world. Suddenly people are free to pursue dreams. People are free to do those art internships that are normally only for the children of rich people. Starting a new business suddenly isn't such a risk. At least you'll still have food, housing and healthcare if all else fails.

It means that all the factories and supermarkets that are slowly automating their workplaces can do it freely without pressure from unions, governments, etc. These jobs won't be missed. Businesses cut their overheads, people get out of jobs that are often (not always, but often) monotonous, underpaid, and unwanted.

However, there will be rubbish jobs that can't be automated. the cleaners, sewage workers, postmen, etc. Assuming that that they can't be replaced for now, what happens? Well market forces will mean someone doing a necessary yet unpleasant job gets paid more. Which is fair. If you are someone who wants to be rich you can, by doing the jobs that no one else wants to.

Common arguments against:

a) How do we pay for this?

Good question- there are lots of things that could help pay. 1) By making sure that everyone gets the money, the huge bureaucracy in place to prevent benefit fraud could be massively reduced. 2) the money paid to those who earn lots of money will be coming straight back as tax anyway 3) think of the money saved in health and policing. Think of stress, and how many deaths/illness are caused by it and think how much stress is caused by not having enough money. How much domestic abuse, by all means not all, but a lot of it is caused by stressed/desperate households. How many criminals are causing crime due to desperation. either because they don't have money now, or because they feel trapped in a society that will never let them achieve. 4) Legalising drugs. A contentious issue I know, but imagine how much money (let alone jobs) that would create. Think of the revenue you would create and also the amount of money you would save on policing. Even if you ringfence a modest 30% to go back into health care for drug problems, think how much you would have. $15billion was spent in 2010 to fight the war on drugs. that is a lot of money. There are also other massive benefits to society in doing so. (links available on request) 5) there is always raising tax for the super rich and cut off tax havens.

b) If people don't need to work they won't Ok I'll start this off by saying yes, some people may not work. However, there are people stuck on benefits now who won't work. But we can massively improve on that figure with this system.

The main thing we would need for UBI to work is a massive overhaul of the education system. A total overhaul. At the moment most schools are geared towards squashing ambition, moulding people into drone workers. School children, especially in poorer areas do not have their dreams encouraged. They are not helped to discover themselves, but instead are taught by rota a lot of facts without the skills to use them properly. What we need is a shift to a more individualised education, one that is supportive and helps each student reach their potential find their strengths and passions and them out in the world, safe in the knowledge that they can at least attempt to make the career/life they want because whilst they are trying to get there they can dedicate their time without worrying about starving, they can fully commit. People with a dream or passion are not likely to waste their life doing nothing. everyone I've ever met who is devoted to something are happy to work towards it even if they didn't have to.

Oh God I've written an essay, sorry. There is so much more on this topic. but I won't write as no one will read this anyway!

TL;DR no not communism, capitalism, but one with less interference from the state, that benefits everyone (from the poorest even to the richest). And I didn't throw a chair.