text: Jane, I generally agree with your observations--at least to the extent they were valid in the past, but only partially true in the present (IMO), and--unfortunately--which may not continue to hold "true" in ALL of the wider range of plausible future scenarios I described elsewhere in response to other comments about this idea. 
  
  I don't have the energy to elaborate again here and now, but suffice it to say I think Universal Basic Income--along with more democratized widespread ownership of income-producing assets--form the basis of what I think already is, and increasingly will be, the need to rethink, reform, and even completely reinvent our legacy 20th century social safety net programs--as well as our increasingly antiquated concept of the "social contract"--IF we want them to be more resilient, adaptable, and effective regardless of what future scenarios our children, grandchildren, and future generations beyond them might encounter during the rest of the 21st century--and beyond.