Kr1ll1nX

And that is one of the many reasons why I believe basic income to be a joke. People have been screaming for it for years now, yet they can't even figure out how or if it would work with differing COLAs (read the thread...I did).

Proper solutions to complex problems are not solved by throwing out an idea that a lot of people like, and figuring out the details later.

How does someone that supports basic income justify a fixed rate when a single country can have multiple COLA estimates?

Why the push for basic income versus some economic protectionism, such as taxes and tariffs on the import\export of labor? Something like that would encourage more competition in all markets local and global (see the Ma Bell breakup, and the economic impact immediately after).

18 comments in your linked thread, the majority of which are bringing into the discussion the problems inherit in disparate COLAs.

The majority answer from proponents is that it would be a fixed rate, judging from 18 comments in the thread, but that people in high COLA areas should get rid of everything they own, and move if they have to.

This poor advice is easily shot down by others when the topic of actual real world economic opportunity comes up. How does a Systems Engineer advance beyond the need for Basic Income, if he\she lives in the backwoods of Mississippi?

As it stands, the comment below has not received any replies to address the very real concern it brings to light;

http://www.reddit.com/r/BasicIncome/comments/2ghhtu/question_about_universal_based_income_how_does/ckjdqcl

1) people have roots in these places. They aren't just going to pick up and leave everyone and everything they care about, besides suddenly they have a low guaranteed income now?

If this is true, why isn't Montana full of people living off social security or disability or military pensions ?

2) If you want a career you also probably won't move. Actors aren't going to move to Montana, they are going to move to Hollywood. Tech guys aren't going to move to Montana, they will move to were the tech is (big cities). I want to teach and learn Latin, welp, I better move to Montana...

None of this makes any sense.

3) The other problem is infrastructure. As a whole, it's generally more effective to run with denser populations. The more people spread out, the more costly it becomes.

4) Not to mention culture and entrainment. Compare New York Library to the best library in Montana, how does that stand up? How many cultures do you interact with daily in NY versus Small town Montana?

Questions and challenges to a proposal like basic income should have answers, not assumptions and hope, else you are still throwing good money after bad, and could potentially make things even worse.