Marianne Williamson wants to give every adult $1,000 per month (CNBC)

[Glia]

Published Wed, Aug 21 2019 12:12 PM EDT

While Andrew Yang (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/21/democrat-andrew-yang-running-for-president-on-platform-of-free-cash.html) is best known as the Democratic presidential hopeful touting free cash (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/27/free-cash-handouts-what-is-universal-basic-income-or-ubi.html) for Americans as part of his political campaign, he’s not the only one. Though much of the attention on fellow Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson has focused on the best-selling self-help author’s unconventional platform of love (https://www.marianne2020.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwyqTqBRAyEiwA8K_4O8pVSygl6AEommeDARklDZwxNyirVMjPB4b4OawmPe7y6QTMz6SuvRoC_i4QAvD_BwE)and spirituality (and her friendship with Oprah Winfrey), she also has a plan to institute a universal basic income (https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/27/free-cash-handouts-what-is-universal-basic-income-or-ubi.html).

Part of Williamson’s economic plan is to pay all American citizens ages 18 to 65 (https://www.marianne2020.com/issues/the-economy) (or until they are eligible for their Social Security payment) $1,000 per month, no questions asked. (The age at which people get Social Security benefits depends on year of birth (https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/agereduction.html).)

“This will provide immediate cash relief to those who need it. It will give people a small but reliable stream of income. It will create a floor so no American needs to be hungry. It will also provide a big stimulus to the economy as people spend this money on food, clothes and other essentials,” according to Williamson’s campaign website. ...

Read/view the rest here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/21/candidate-marianne-williamsons-plan-to-give-adults-1000-per-month.html

[SonomaPatientsCoop]

Well, from the numbers I can find there are an estimated 207,493,374 Americans between 18-65 in the US. Removing the estimated ~7% of adults who are not US citizens puts at 192,968,838.

Now multiply that by $12k/yr and we come to 2,315,626,056,000 . Or roughly 2 1/3 TRILLION dollars per year. And that's without the costs of managing and implementing such a system.

I cannot see congress passing something like this- much less being able to pull off the tax increases on the wealthy and the budget cuts that would be needed to pay for it. Especially as Republicans would demand massive cuts to social safety nets to pay for it. And... since early projections are Republicans will maintain control of the Senate and Likely take control of the House.... I don't think this is anything but an empty, feel-good promise meant to garner some attention to her campaign.

And besides that- I would point out a basic unfairness in the plan. In Sonoma County- that won't even pay your rent. And yet in many parts of the country- especially deep red states, that would likely pay your rent AND your utilities...and probably some if not all of your groceries. And never mind that includes millions who have zero *need* for such "free" money.

Surely there are smarter ways to use such a sum of money....

[Glia]

Marianne Williamson obviously has not figured out how to fund a universal basic income (UBI) benefit, but Andrew Yang -- the guy she stole the idea from -- has... BECAUSE HE IS SMART!!!

His proposal and a lengthy list of FAQs are readily available on his campaign website at
https://www.yang2020.com/what-is-freedom-dividend-faq/
(https://www.yang2020.com/what-is-freedom-dividend-faq/)