Milton Friedman was a longtime advocate of a basic income, which in his precise parlance was called a Negative Income Tax. (<a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=xtpgkX588nM" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=xtpgkX588nM</a>)<p>Leftist politicians have blocked this at several points, alas, although it is probably the most humane and effective method of delivering help to the poor. It also has the advantage of getting more people to, you know, actually file tax returns.