Page 38 - michael-journal-2019-may

The Social Dividend

Progress and Unemployment

39. How do we deal with unemployment? 42. How can mechanization become an ally?
If it were simply a matter of work we know that This alliance would be created through the distri-
anyone can dig a hole, fill it up, dig it again and fill it up bution of a Social Dividend which would be a source
once more. An unemployed person occupied in this of purchasing power in addition to salaries. The Divi-
manner would not make a single penny. Why focus dend would enable the population to buy the abun-
on work and jobs when it is money that is needed? dant products available because of technological ad-
The solution does not lie with work; it lies with the vances and progress.
products that must be sold. An increase in the sales of 43. Would the Social Dividend be the source of an
products could even give employment new life. additional tax borne by those who work?
The system ironically requires that work be done The Social Dividend should not be confused with
in order to have access to goods whose production social programs such as welfare and employment in-
requires the input of less work. surance. The funds used in the latter programs were
40. We do not want mechanization to take away our taken from the earnings of other members of society
jobs. through taxation.
What? Is progress an enemy of mankind? Must Social programs demoralize recipients by finan-
we give up on education and all discoveries? Must we cially penalizing those who would work. A recipient
close all universities and end research? who accepts work, even at minimum wage, can lose
his benefits. Receiving benefits can be humiliating; the
Progress must not be done away with; it must be recipient is made to believe that he is living at the ex-
applied to freeing mankind. pense of others.
41. Could progress be a good thing? The Social Dividend has none of these negative
Of course. The machine is worthwhile and a step features. It is an income distributed to all since it be-
in the right direction even if it replaces the work of 10 longs to everyone. It creates a burden for no one and
men. This is an indicator of progress. is not paid out of borrowed money nor from taxation;
neither is it inflationary as it is backed by goods and
Progress frees us from working for material well-
being and gives us more time for leisure. Everyone services. The Social Dividend is not charity. It is akin to
must be able to purchase what progress makes pos- the distribution of revenues to “shareholders”. Advan-
sible. Progress should improve the quality of life and ces in the processes that accelerate the volume of pro-
duction call for advancements in the amount of money
liberate us from worries about the future.
that is available in society.
Freedom and Dignity

44. Why do we need a guaranteed income to ensure legitimate but may seem superfluous.
our freedom and dignity? In the scheme of life’s basic needs, all people are
All people have freedom inscribed in their hearts, equal. Thus we cannot approve of a social and eco-
but if a person does not have the basics of life, free- nomic system that allows some of its members to do
dom is no more than a word. without the basics while others live in luxury. The “vital
People will suffer all manner of humiliations if they minimum” requires that each individual has available
do not have access to basic goods. When people are a minimum amount of purchasing power. This aim is
guaranteed their subsistence those with self-respect achievable, straightforward and necessary with to-
will accept privations and even renounce well-being day’s methods of mechanized production.
and comforts rather than lose their freedom. This is 46. Who is responsible for the provision to each per-
why exploiters, in both politics and industry, react son of a “vital minimum”?
negatively as soon as the question arises whether so- It is the duty of a well-organized society to ensure
ciety should guarantee a “vital minimum” to each of that each of its members be guaranteed at least the
its members. minimum amount required for living.
45. What is meant by “vital minimum”? Economic security, i.e., having basic needs met,
The “vital minimum” refers to the least amount is one thing; an individual’s freedom of choice is an-
of economic security required to meet basic needs. other. To be real and effective, freedom requires one
Some human needs are essential and if they are not to have a minimum of economic security.
satisfied life cannot proceed. Other needs are less es- 47. Wasn’t the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
sential but are of great value to the quality of life and [signed in 1948] created to serve that purpose? u
personal development. Still other needs are perfectly

www.michaeljournal.org MICHAEL May/June/July 2019 41