I'm up the road in Washington, and the UBI discussion has gone around here, as well. I'm skeptical, but mostly in the context of the US collective value system, with respect to how we view money; our relationship with money and "stuff" as a defining aspect of our self-identity.

As my username might suggest, I was born, raised and largely grew up in Denmark so I've also experienced the workings of a capitalist social democracy, from within. The starting point over there is that people (culturally speaking) have a different relationship with money and what constitutes "enough."

For UBI to have any chance of working in the US, it can't just be doled out "no strings;" but it could perhaps help people if it were provided on a sort of "smart card" that could only be used to pay towards electric bills, phone, insurance, housing and possibly qualifying SNAP (food stamps) grocery items. I don't think people need money, they need a better *social safety net" when the proverbial excrement hits the whirling apparatus. When you don't live in constant financial fear, you're more capable of responding to what life offers, rather than reacting to it.

I've lived in the US full-time since 1985, and in my time here I have been homeless, lived in my car, AND had a six figure salary. Having a lot of money did not make me happy, but NOT having any definitely led to a constant state of anxiety. Had I stayed in Denmark, it's very unlikely I would ever have been homeless, and almost as unlikely that my IT job would have paid that much.

But I'm wandering a bit, here. The primary reason I doubt UBI would work in the US is that we've been "trained" to view the "ideal life" as having lots of money and doing nothing. Strangely far from the "work ethic" so often touted as a core American value.

I definitely enjoy the challenge of problem solving in life and finding creative solutions to those challenges. What I enjoy less is doing so against the pervasive backdrop of "if I FAIL I'm likely out in the street."