The United States does not have a Universal Basic Income plan and quite frankly doesn’t appear to be on track to have one, anytime soon. Yet, incredibly, when we turn back the clock to the Nixon administration of 1969, President Nixon, put forth the Family Assistance Plan, which in its effect, would have served the purpose of a Universal Basic Income, in which families would thereby receive an annual guaranteed minimum income, whether or not they were employed. Further to the point, those that did work, but made a minimal wage, would still be eligible for that same federal stipend from the FAP, of which, that stipend would be reduced but not eliminated. In other words, those that worked for low wages would have their wages still augmented by FAP, and those that were not employed, would receive what would represent a Universal Basic Income. As history tells us, though, this proposed FAP was not approved by the Senate, and therefore was never ratified.
It seems a shame, that despite this nation recognizing how enervating poverty is, and therefore the need for income or welfare at a meaningful level which would thus provide a basic floor for all Americans, we find that this nation still does not have the character to do the right thing by its people. If one of the complaints about the welfare state is that far too many people are paid to do nothing all day, the Nixon plan would have demonstrated that those so employed, would still have been entitled to receive benefits from the government, thereby providing them with necessary funds to help keep their heads above water. So too, those who were unemployed would themselves be entitled to have a yearly monetary stipend that would provide them with something of substance to help them to survive.
For all those who believe that it is just fine to have millions of Americans living in substandard and impoverished enclaves of hopelessness and abandonment, it would behoove them to better understand that lending a helping hand to a fellow American is something that this the richest nation that the world has ever known, has as an obligation to provide for those that are the least amongst them. Indeed, to ignore the poor and disadvantaged people in America, is a disservice to those who have little or nothing, and if the lust for profits in this capitalistic nation, essentially means that there will always be the poor amongst us – then the least that this nation should do is to devote the time, energy, and effort to help those that truly need a helping hand, with the overall objective getting those that currently are unemployed or in dire circumstances, a fair shot at getting a toehold into this nation, for in doing that, not only will this country have more of its citizens, that believe in America, but this would also serve to proclaim that in America, this actually is the land of opportunity, of which, this nation does not ever close the door upon its own, or turn out the light, because in reality, these are our fellow Americans, deserving of their fair chance, as well.