Murray, a libertarian, says the government should do what the government does best -- write checks! He proposes the government should supply a stipend for every adult. This starts at 10,000, plus 3,000 dedicated to health insurance, no strings attached. This amount, he proposes, would constitute a living (if meager) income for everyone. The stipend gradually reduces to nil once the total income of an individual reaches $60,000. In exchange, all government programs should be eliminated, including social security, medicare, and medicaid.
He maintains that this plan will change major dynamics of our society. For example, it will minimize government influence to achieve soi-disant desirable ends through the power of the purse. It will, he maintains, incentivize individuals to make responsible decisions. For instance, it will encourage people to form stable relationships, because two can live better on $20,000 per year than one on $10,000. He says this no-strings-attached stipend will incentivize private charity, as was the norm through the early part of the Twentieth Century. He describes other ramifications of this plan which will, generally empower individuals, and reduce their dependence on government programs.
His arguments are persuasive to me, but I can't work through their nuances or address the many obvious objections to the idea of a no-strings-attached stipend for everyone in a brief review. The book itself, though, works through many of these and outlines the wide scope of changes that such a plan would bring about. No matter whether the reader agrees with the conclusions or not, the book may stimulate thought and discussion.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2016
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2007
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2007
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2017
Top reviews from other countries
elliot wilson
very interesting text but murray doesint spend enough time dealing ...
Reviewed in Canada on January 12, 2017Mr Andrew W N Probert
A gem of a book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2012
