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Hugh Segal: A Lifelong Fight Against Poverty

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 6h

Former Conservative Senator, educator, leader in the struggle for a basic income for Canada and author of "Bootstraps Need Boots: One Lonely Tories Fight to End Poverty in Canada", Hugh Segal
youtu.be/pcCQ0k1yvoQ?...

YouTube video by TVO Today

www.scottsantens.com/the-toothpas...

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 6h

The Toothpaste Argument for Universal Basic Income

The following argument is based on the words of the late Götz Werner, who was a long-time supporter of the concept of unconditional basic income in Germany, who gained a unique understanding of UBI as...

www.scottsantens.com

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 6h

Pulling at one's bootstraps takes owning boots first.

a series of larger stacks of coins and then a jar of coins on a blurred greenish leafy background with larger green shoots growing from the coins.

Caption : it takes money to make money

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 1d

It sort of shifted and enhanced the view of what could happen. Originally, it was thought that more blue collar was under assault first and that white collar and especially creative fields were fairly safe. That cratered.

This rising uncertainty, regardless of what we do, won't go back in the box.

Reposted by Tom Pogson

Ken Yang @kenjaminyang.bsky.social · 1d

Many in the Canadian basic income movement brushed this off until as recently as 2 years ago, when chatGPT became the fastest product to 100M users

Now everyone's talking about it

Floyd Marinescu @floydmarinescu.bsky.social · 1d

Bernie dropped this video saying AI will wipe out the working class.

“Millions of jobs will be eliminated. This is not science fiction. It’s already happening.”

The UBI movement has been saying this for years.

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 1d

More:
youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Start Here ▶️ - YouTube

Want to dip your toe in the subject of Basic Income, UBI, Guaranteed Income, ect? Not as daunting as the full "Recommended Viewing" from the 4000+ Playlist L...

What a Basic Income actually is.

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 1d

People try to make UBI / Basic Income wayyy more complicated than it is. That's why the stories against are frequently so weird.

It's just 5 rules that create a income floor beneath you, me and everyone.
youtube.com/shorts/IPJVa...

Karl Widerquist on UBI, voting and Trust.

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 2d

But there is something deeply powerful about the unconditionality, the fact we trust you up front...the fact we see you up front...the fact we invest in you up front.

We counted on you because you count.

One example from the Finland experiment:
youtu.be/cir4MKM1HIk?...

Basic Income/UBI is not the same as welfare

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 2d

It's not just about poverty. It's not just about inequality. It's not just about robots. It's not just about a better social safety net turning into a solid floor.

Oh, sure, it can address many of those things. And also yes it is best complimented by strong public assets.

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Reposted by Tom Pogson

violet aurora discordia🏳️‍⚧️ @violetdiscordia.bsky.social · 2d

if someone opposes universal basic income and also complains about artists selling out you are morally obligated to pants them. fyi

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Reposted by Tom Pogson

Beatghoul ⑆⑇⑈⑉ @beatgrrrl.bsky.social · 4d

Ireland now has a Basic Income for the Arts.

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 3d

The difference between welfare and basic income is that you can lose welfare.

Whether UBI or GLBI, you can't lose it. It's yours. It's a solid floor you just can't fall through, which is useful as a base below other increasingly volatile sources.
youtube.com/shorts/n2gHu...

Budget 2026: Basic Income for Artists Scheme to become permanent

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 3d

Image from the In Ireland FB page.

www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

The Government's basic income scheme for artists is set to become a permanent fixture from next year, with 2,000 new places to be made available under Budget 2026.

www.rte.ie

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 3d

Sign with white lettering under red background beneath giant oversized Irish harp with people gathered at its base.
Basic Income for Artists to become permanent in 2026

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 4d

This is a great point by Scott Siess about hiring.

I Oh, I know. Years ago now I walked into one place with a shirt and tie, resume, and cover letter...

and they proceeded to look at me like I was from Mars.
youtube.com/shorts/PjUDL...

Great point about hiring by Scott Siess

basicbc.wordpress.com/2025/02/16/t...

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 4d

The most valuable work we give a value of zero

What makes it go? Fun experiment you can try: Imagine getting up from bed in the morning and trying not to do anything all day besides your job. I mean nothing. I’ll permit maybe (maybe) deod…

basicbc.wordpress.com

Reposted by Tom Pogson

Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 5d

The solution to homelessness is not forced institutionalizations.

It’s social supports. Healthcare. Housing. Education. Harm reduction. A universal basic income.

Anyone can become homeless at any time. It’s not a personal failing.

We must fix it together.

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 4d

Source:
youtu.be/xXUWV2L0U08?...

Builds Social Cohesion – A case of Basic Income Grant (BIG) by Professor Michael Samson

YouTube video by KOOLIKE DOCUMENTARY HOUSE

New industries are not mass employers. | Gerald Huff

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 4d

From: Builds Social Cohesion: A Case of Basic Income Grant (BIG)

To say, "This is a populist policy, you're just trying to buy votes", well, what's the alternative...governments putting in bad policies so they don't get elected? No...
Let's encourage political leaders to table good policies like a basic income grant."

Professor Michael Samson

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 5d

Gerald Huff told us ten years ago.

Recorded at the 2015 Milken Institute Global Conference "Technology and Jobs: Should Workers Worry?"

youtu.be/hRKCpwkSmwc?...

YouTube video by The Gerald Huff Fund for Humanity

Universal Basic Income is a mass redistribution of power and trust. #UBI

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 6d

#BasicIncome is empowering and trusting in each other at scale.

The decision to believe in each other and demonstrate that is what stops basic income, not some lack of technology or political movement. The idea's been around for decades and could have been here decades ago.
youtu.be/0QJ9Q_jigSs?...

YouTube video by Scott Santens

The “Equal Opportunity” Lie Politicians Don’t Want You to Question

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Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 6d

youtu.be/DxSMgIU6nlY?...

YouTube video by The Awkward Reality

Economist Guy Standing on "Something for Nothing" of UBI (complete clip)

Tom Pogson @basicbc.bsky.social · 7d

Automation isn't a new reason and/or the only reason for UBI.

It's more economic disruption that will only grow and a furthering of an old reason for it:

It's our work that got us here to this place now. Not benefiting from that and being required to work more is insane
youtu.be/stPRvhTCZ5U?...