Basic income doesn't emphasize divisions between poor and working people
&quot;If we’re interested in social policies that are resilient I think the dignity problem, or the moral aspects of these policies are worth considering more closely.&quot;<p>I certainly agree the moral aspects are worth considering. No matter how you arrange your basic income scheme (and the tax system to support it), it&#x27;s going to split the population into two groups: those who are net recipients of government money, and those who are net contributors.<p>Don&#x27;t let basic income advocates evade the question of who pays for their utopian scheme.<p>The current welfare systems are a messy parcel of compromises, but they at least acknowledge that people have to demonstrate need to be the recipients of government handouts. Once you establish that people have a permanent, inalienable right to an income, you imply that others are obligated to provide them with that income.