BIG-NS and COVID-19
The Corona Virus pandemic is a public concern of huge proportions. Many at all governmental levels are focused upon how to deal with the health and economic fall-outs from it. The danger that we face in our response, is that temporary stop-gap measures will be implemented, focusing upon what are perceived as ‘more deserving’ segments of the population. As a society, we feel great concern for people who may become unemployed and sink into poverty. We are concerned for the precariat who will face their worst nightmares. These people will face dilemmas that are a way of life for people already living in poverty. But when the pandemic subsides, poverty will still exist.
We have an opportunity—a responsibility–as we construct a response to the present crisis, to ensure that our policies support all people in society–permanently. As a nation we can choose to embrace policies that are not just stop gap measures but are long term, financially sound, and pro-active solutions that take the pain out of the “unforeseen” challenges that society will face, not just now with the Corona virus, but in the future and when other crises arise. Basic Income Guarantee is a long-term and do-able solution.
The uniqueness of a Basic Income program is that it is a pro-active long term financially sound solution that provides every citizen with a secure financial floor below which she/he can not fall, regardless of circumstances. The principles of a Basic Income (see BIG-NS principles document) stress that it is a human right not to live in poverty and it is everybody’s moral obligation to contribute to this income floor through income redistribution. A Basic Income does not replace but becomes a central and essential component of a comprehensive social support system required to take care of all members of our society. Other supports must accompany it including mental and physical health care, pharmacare, affordable housing, a living wage, and laws that ensure protections.
Basic Income is a social insurance policy that could and should be in place for all of us, so we don’t have to ask if the gig worker is endangered or if the person providing home care deserves to have a liveable income, or if the minimum wage earner should have a life with a sense of security. Those that historically have lived on the margins of income security deserve as much as anyone else to be protected against unforeseen calamities, as are those that have been able to firewall against the same challenges by abundance of income.
Now is the time for the federal government to start implementing a Basic Income. They are already looking at spending billions to stimulate the economy and more to help those affected by wage loss. A basic income would cover both those bases. And it could be done through modifying the current tax system.
