Jason Burke Murphy
@murfmensch.bsky.social
I teach philosophy at Elms College in MA. My interests include the debate surrounding Basic Income. I have also written about popular culture, moving pictures, Star Trek, and sport.
[Picture: Starbase 80. This is a metaphor.]
[Picture: Starbase 80. This is a metaphor.]
A nice piece. Basic income is good because people won’t have as many problems. We are wrong to worry about people working less or more.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
The Fatal Trap UBI Boosters Keep Falling Into
To win the argument for universal basic income, advocates must confront the myth that less work means less worth.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
November 13, 2025 at 1:13 AM
A nice piece. Basic income is good because people won’t have as many problems. We are wrong to worry about people working less or more.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-fatal-tr...
Unions keep proving to be the answer to climate change and right-wing blowback.
I was impressed to read that the North Atlantic has “capacity to build 264 GW of offshore wind that could produce up to 27 percent of the United States’s annual electricity consumption.”
jacobin.com/2025/10/afl-...
I was impressed to read that the North Atlantic has “capacity to build 264 GW of offshore wind that could produce up to 27 percent of the United States’s annual electricity consumption.”
jacobin.com/2025/10/afl-...
New England Unions Lead the Way on Offshore Wind
Building trades unions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts are successfully fighting for offshore wind projects that create good union jobs and revitalize the economy. In the process, they’re showing ho...
jacobin.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Unions keep proving to be the answer to climate change and right-wing blowback.
I was impressed to read that the North Atlantic has “capacity to build 264 GW of offshore wind that could produce up to 27 percent of the United States’s annual electricity consumption.”
jacobin.com/2025/10/afl-...
I was impressed to read that the North Atlantic has “capacity to build 264 GW of offshore wind that could produce up to 27 percent of the United States’s annual electricity consumption.”
jacobin.com/2025/10/afl-...
“The headline takeaway from the cost benefit analysis is that society received €1.39 in return for every €1 of public money invested in the pilot.”
Ireland’s Basic Income Grant to 2,000 artists may become permanent.
#basicincome
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
Ireland’s Basic Income Grant to 2,000 artists may become permanent.
#basicincome
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
How Basic Income for the Arts scheme is a win for all
The socioeconomic benefits of supporting artists through this scheme is worth €100 million to Irish society
www.rte.ie
October 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
“The headline takeaway from the cost benefit analysis is that society received €1.39 in return for every €1 of public money invested in the pilot.”
Ireland’s Basic Income Grant to 2,000 artists may become permanent.
#basicincome
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
Ireland’s Basic Income Grant to 2,000 artists may become permanent.
#basicincome
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
Boston Review is so good. They have re-posted Elaine Scarry's essay on Plato and Poetry and it is... so good.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/pla...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/pla...
Plato and the Poets - Boston Review
The centuries-old debate should be settled: an intellectual world bereft of poetry is a damaged one.
www.bostonreview.net
October 10, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Boston Review is so good. They have re-posted Elaine Scarry's essay on Plato and Poetry and it is... so good.
www.bostonreview.net/articles/pla...
www.bostonreview.net/articles/pla...
I want to recommend River Solomon's short novel --The Deep-- which is based on a recording by Clipping.
Memory, trauma, emotional labor, solidarity. Find it here. The essay by Clipping is also very good. This was about seeing an idea move from one person and from one genre to another.
Memory, trauma, emotional labor, solidarity. Find it here. The essay by Clipping is also very good. This was about seeing an idea move from one person and from one genre to another.
October 1, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I want to recommend River Solomon's short novel --The Deep-- which is based on a recording by Clipping.
Memory, trauma, emotional labor, solidarity. Find it here. The essay by Clipping is also very good. This was about seeing an idea move from one person and from one genre to another.
Memory, trauma, emotional labor, solidarity. Find it here. The essay by Clipping is also very good. This was about seeing an idea move from one person and from one genre to another.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
If you say 'heteronormative' or 'unhoused person' or 'food insecurity' you're basically talking gibberish and nobody can understand you but if you say you can see inflammation in children at the airport and that vaccines lower IQ or that germs are a myth you get to fire all the scientists.
August 31, 2025 at 3:46 PM
If you say 'heteronormative' or 'unhoused person' or 'food insecurity' you're basically talking gibberish and nobody can understand you but if you say you can see inflammation in children at the airport and that vaccines lower IQ or that germs are a myth you get to fire all the scientists.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
Pritzker makes a crucial point here: Members of the National Guard have full-time jobs outside of their service and responsibilities. By frivolously calling them up, Trump is upending their lives just to weaponize them against their own neighbors and fellow Americans. It's appalling.
August 25, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Pritzker makes a crucial point here: Members of the National Guard have full-time jobs outside of their service and responsibilities. By frivolously calling them up, Trump is upending their lives just to weaponize them against their own neighbors and fellow Americans. It's appalling.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
Zohran Mamdani being *more* popular among NYC Jews than among NYC voters as a whole is a wild fact, and completely belies much of the national narrative surrounding his candidacy.
The people in the national media who talk a lot about antisemitism are often not listening to actual Jews.
The people in the national media who talk a lot about antisemitism are often not listening to actual Jews.
July 29, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Zohran Mamdani being *more* popular among NYC Jews than among NYC voters as a whole is a wild fact, and completely belies much of the national narrative surrounding his candidacy.
The people in the national media who talk a lot about antisemitism are often not listening to actual Jews.
The people in the national media who talk a lot about antisemitism are often not listening to actual Jews.
When I play Wordle, I start with the previous day’s winning word. This is like throwing away half a turn. I am the biggest badass of all time.
July 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM
When I play Wordle, I start with the previous day’s winning word. This is like throwing away half a turn. I am the biggest badass of all time.
Ann-Katrin Berger just put in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen a keeper do.
How she kept her nerve when everything happened…
#weuro #FRAGER
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann-Kat...
How she kept her nerve when everything happened…
#weuro #FRAGER
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann-Kat...
Ann-Katrin Berger - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
July 19, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Ann-Katrin Berger just put in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen a keeper do.
How she kept her nerve when everything happened…
#weuro #FRAGER
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann-Kat...
How she kept her nerve when everything happened…
#weuro #FRAGER
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann-Kat...
This FRA v GER W Euro quarterfinal has had everything. Insane early red card. 10 players defending like mad. Blocked pen. A diving own-goal stop! Extra time still to go. Mental.
July 19, 2025 at 9:27 PM
This FRA v GER W Euro quarterfinal has had everything. Insane early red card. 10 players defending like mad. Blocked pen. A diving own-goal stop! Extra time still to go. Mental.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
You fight for a zygote, but cheer when a child is ripped from a mother‘s arms by ICE.
Tells me everything I need to know about you.
Tells me everything I need to know about you.
June 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
You fight for a zygote, but cheer when a child is ripped from a mother‘s arms by ICE.
Tells me everything I need to know about you.
Tells me everything I need to know about you.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
The fact that protestors started destroying driverless cars is a signal, as is all the celebration of this destruction. There is already anger about the jobs and income being displaced by AI before any universal basic income is implemented. A likely rallying cry — no automation without compensation!
June 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The fact that protestors started destroying driverless cars is a signal, as is all the celebration of this destruction. There is already anger about the jobs and income being displaced by AI before any universal basic income is implemented. A likely rallying cry — no automation without compensation!
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
Elon out Ange in
March 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Elon out Ange in
One of my youth jobs was engraving trophies and jewelry. I can’t imagine doing it live on TV after a match. But they are spelling Tottenham Hotspur correctly right now. #COYS
May 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
One of my youth jobs was engraving trophies and jewelry. I can’t imagine doing it live on TV after a match. But they are spelling Tottenham Hotspur correctly right now. #COYS
Watching the Europa League final with the Pioneer Valley Spurs.
May 21, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Watching the Europa League final with the Pioneer Valley Spurs.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
Pete Buttigieg says citizens should get a share of the value created by AI, like a dividend.
"Why shouldn't we all get a share? Instead of it all going to a tiny handful of super wealthy people."
UBI from tech funded by taxpayers.
"Why shouldn't we all get a share? Instead of it all going to a tiny handful of super wealthy people."
UBI from tech funded by taxpayers.
May 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Pete Buttigieg says citizens should get a share of the value created by AI, like a dividend.
"Why shouldn't we all get a share? Instead of it all going to a tiny handful of super wealthy people."
UBI from tech funded by taxpayers.
"Why shouldn't we all get a share? Instead of it all going to a tiny handful of super wealthy people."
UBI from tech funded by taxpayers.
Dear liberals: every time you correct someone’s grammar on social media, you are publicly shaming people.
You are also sending people to the right.
Priorities. You can win tweet exchanges or win elections.
You are also sending people to the right.
Priorities. You can win tweet exchanges or win elections.
April 28, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Dear liberals: every time you correct someone’s grammar on social media, you are publicly shaming people.
You are also sending people to the right.
Priorities. You can win tweet exchanges or win elections.
You are also sending people to the right.
Priorities. You can win tweet exchanges or win elections.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
Imagine knowing that everyone doing any work of any kind was doing it not because they had to for survival income but because they chose to for discretionary income or because of the work itself. Universal basic income would fundamentally transform every interaction with every provider of a service.
The Monsters, Inc. Argument for Unconditional Basic Income
How to convert an economy based on fear to one based on joy
www.scottsantens.com
April 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Imagine knowing that everyone doing any work of any kind was doing it not because they had to for survival income but because they chose to for discretionary income or because of the work itself. Universal basic income would fundamentally transform every interaction with every provider of a service.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
The Marshall Islands, the last UN member without a national football team, have locked in their first games 🇲🇭
Springdale, AR—home to the largest overseas Marshallese community—will stage the Outrigger Cup in August, also featuring Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands and Guam ⚽️
Springdale, AR—home to the largest overseas Marshallese community—will stage the Outrigger Cup in August, also featuring Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands and Guam ⚽️
March 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The Marshall Islands, the last UN member without a national football team, have locked in their first games 🇲🇭
Springdale, AR—home to the largest overseas Marshallese community—will stage the Outrigger Cup in August, also featuring Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands and Guam ⚽️
Springdale, AR—home to the largest overseas Marshallese community—will stage the Outrigger Cup in August, also featuring Turks and Caicos, US Virgin Islands and Guam ⚽️
A political party (The Left) is proposing a small #basicincome in order to secure a fair transition to a Green economy. This would be a strong step towards a higher basic income as a means of promoting individual and working-class power. This policy is lost in coverage of other tumultuous issues.
February 14, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A political party (The Left) is proposing a small #basicincome in order to secure a fair transition to a Green economy. This would be a strong step towards a higher basic income as a means of promoting individual and working-class power. This policy is lost in coverage of other tumultuous issues.
Trump is at the Super Bowl, so I will skip it.
This Super Bowl will have the worst, most, terrible ratings. The worst ever.
This Super Bowl will have the worst, most, terrible ratings. The worst ever.
February 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Trump is at the Super Bowl, so I will skip it.
This Super Bowl will have the worst, most, terrible ratings. The worst ever.
This Super Bowl will have the worst, most, terrible ratings. The worst ever.
Reposted by Jason Burke Murphy
➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
January 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM
➡️ January 20: FAA director fired
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
➡️ January 21: Air Traffic Controller hiring frozen
➡️ January 22: Aviation Safety Advisory Committee disbanded
➡️ January 28: Buyout/retirement demand sent to existing employees
➡️ January 29: First American mid-air collision in 16 years
Making America Great Again!
We really need the left to take up #basicincome.
Trump did not need to sign the stimulus checks that went out during the pandemic. He did it to win people over.
Trump did not need to sign the stimulus checks that went out during the pandemic. He did it to win people over.
The enhanced child tax credit payments averaged $462/mo per family and reached almost 40 million families. Besides improving mental health, the money also boosted entrepreneurship and resulted in fewer parents selling their blood plasma.
The ROI would've been $10 per $1 had the payments continued.
The ROI would've been $10 per $1 had the payments continued.
One Year After the Expiration of the Enhanced Child Tax Credit, What All Have We Learned About Its Effects?
Summary: The monthly Child Tax Credit payments did not reduce employment, but what they did do was reduce hunger and increase entrepreneurship, and if made permanent would likely generate far greater ...
www.scottsantens.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
We really need the left to take up #basicincome.
Trump did not need to sign the stimulus checks that went out during the pandemic. He did it to win people over.
Trump did not need to sign the stimulus checks that went out during the pandemic. He did it to win people over.