Politicians with gumption promote fair distribution
World Leaders Go to Bat for BIG
| You know all about the income gap. Did you know there are actually elected leaders working to close it? Around the world, sensible statesmen from members of parliaments to sitting prime ministers give voice in the highest circles to the demand for an extra income to everyone. Once one country adopts it, others will follow. |
by Jeffery J. Smith
July, 2007
Imagine getting an income just for being a member of a society with a surplus. You'd have so much security, you could choose to do only useful work. You'd have time to enjoy your brief stay on this planet.
Back in 1985 in the UK Parliament, the Labour Land Campaign worked for a bill to establish a dividend paid to citizens from the recovered values of sites and resources. Friend Dave Wetzel worked on that campaign and works for the “rent” dividend now. He wields some clout among civic leaders worldwide; he’s a VP in the capitol’s mass transit agency, Transport for London.
Something similar to this dividend is the Basic Income Grant (BIG). Some of its advocates note the payment should come from “rent” – the money we spend on the nature we use (sites, resources, EM spectrum, ecosystem services). Most proponents, however, are silent on how to fund BIG. One, the Scottish Green Party, advocates both a “Citizen’s Income” and a tax on land value but does not connect the two. Perhaps it’s a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing.
Among the BIGists are some fairly big (no pun intended) names. Prime minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen of the Centre Party, in joining his nation’s debate on BIG, said that the current wide range of benefits could be replaced by a BIG of about 600 or 700 euros per month, supplemented by incentives to encourage people to work. The Finnish Greens had accused the Social Democrats of using false reasons to reject this extra income for everyone.
Several newsworthy Germans recently endorsed BIG, including sociologist Ulrich Beck, author of "The Risk Society," and chairperson of the left party PDS, Kayja Kipping. One of the 500 richest Germans, Gotz Werner, owner of over 1700 drug stores with annual sales of 3.7 billion euros said, “Like almost all entrepreneurs, I wanted more and more in the past. Today maximizing meaning is my top priority. I have read the classics, Goethe, Schiller. I understand my own success is not everything. I want to help others succeed. ‘Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come,’ Victor Hugo said. Two years ago BIG was something for a few experts. When I give lectures today the halls are full.”
In behalf of Africa, the UN Commission for Social Development praised Namibia’s basic income grant proposal. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) urged its member churches to consider poverty reduction initiatives like Namibia's BIG proposal. The LWF also praised Namibian Lutherans for their work promoting the BIG in South Africa.
In Australia, John McDonnell has been an MP for the Australian Labour Party since 1997. Now he campaigns to become the next Labour leader and endorsed establishing social rights to a Citizen’s Income (or BIG). If his campaign succeeds, he’d be poised to become Prime Minister of Australia in the next general elections, after which he could likely get his Citizen’s Income implemented.
In South America, Uruguayan member of the Parliament Pablo Álvarez (Frente Amplio, left wing coalition) presented at the Chamber of Representatives of the National Parliament a proposal to create the "Uruguayan National Network for Basic Income". The Parliament approved the creation of a Committee to study the political meaning and feasibility of BIG. A committee can be a graveyard for new ideas, but at least the discussion is underway.
In North America, participants in a survey by the [Canadian] National Council on Welfare ranked the Guaranteed Livable Income (another name for BIG) number one for action to permanently reduce poverty. Three Canuck politicos declared their support: Conservative Senator Hugh Segal, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, and the Green Party of Manitoba. Ontario Green Party leader Frank de Jong wrote us (May 26), “I just got around to reading your amazing piece on the citizen's dividend in Common Ground. You inspire me greatly.” US BIG (source of most news above) posted on the web a copy of “Can a Citizens Dividend Replace Welfare?” What do you think the answer is?
---------------------
Jeffery J. Smith runs the Forum on Geonomics.
|
Also see: An Equal Minimum Share
Abolish Taxes, Collect Land-Rent Instead
Anti-Apartheid Icon Leaves Behind Inequality |
| Email this article | Sign up for free Progress Report updates via email |
What are your views? Share your opinions with The Progress Report:
| Page One | Page Two | Archive |
| Discussion Room | Letters | What's Geoism? |
