&gt; There are people who would choose to do something less constructive. The problem comes when people choose to do something destructive.<p>We have systems in society for dealing with people choosing to do something destructive; the idea that this is a problem that needs solved with BI needs, I think, more elaboration.<p>&gt; The idea of basic income sounds good but would it really work in practice?<p>That question gets asked a lot, but no one really seems clear what the mean by &quot;work&quot;.<p>&gt; I am try to raise a potential problem as to why it might not work.<p>What, <i>specifically</i>, is the problem you are trying to raise?<p>&gt; From a more practical point of view, there is also the issue of how such a program could ever be adopted.<p>The public process of deliberating on the features of a system that can work is the same process of building the foundation for it to be adopted.<p>&gt; The idea of workfare could be something that the conservative half of the country also supports.<p>Many of the proponents of UBI <i>are</i> from the conservative half of the country, and &quot;workfare&quot; addresses none of the things that UBI proposes to improve compared to the current system.