Un article de Peter S. Goodman pour le New York Times fait le point sur la volonté du maire de Stockton de distribuer une aide financière à des familles pauvres, sans contrepartie.
“Poverty is the biggest issue,” the mayor said. “Everything we deal with stems from that. There’s so many people working incredibly hard, and if life happens, there’s no bottom.”
Once he took office, his staff recommended basic income as a potential means of attacking poverty, one that was starting to gain traction around the world.
In contrast to government programs that stipulate how money must be spent, basic income is supposed to deliver regular payments without restrictions. It amounts to a bet that poor people know the most appropriate use for a dollar better than bureaucrats. Rather than filling out forms and waiting to see case workers, people can devote their effort to looking for work, gaining skills or spending time with their children.
Illustration : © Jason Henry.