Tom Pogson
@basicbc.bsky.social
Musician, writer, and Basic Income Victoria BC Guy who knows the abundance of a better world IS possible.
https://linktr.ee/Basicbc
https://linktr.ee/Basicbc
Some ideas are both smart and non-partisan.
"A basic or citizen's income is not an alternative to a negative income tax. It is simply another way to introduce a negative income tax if it is accompanied with a positive income tax with no exemption."
-Milton Friedman
"A basic or citizen's income is not an alternative to a negative income tax. It is simply another way to introduce a negative income tax if it is accompanied with a positive income tax with no exemption."
-Milton Friedman
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Some ideas are both smart and non-partisan.
"A basic or citizen's income is not an alternative to a negative income tax. It is simply another way to introduce a negative income tax if it is accompanied with a positive income tax with no exemption."
-Milton Friedman
"A basic or citizen's income is not an alternative to a negative income tax. It is simply another way to introduce a negative income tax if it is accompanied with a positive income tax with no exemption."
-Milton Friedman
The only alteration I'd give... technology has been disrupting things since the 1970s, and we should have started basic income then. It is better to start ironing the bugs out before the tidal wave actually hits.
But still, the more voice to it, the better.
But still, the more voice to it, the better.
November 8, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The only alteration I'd give... technology has been disrupting things since the 1970s, and we should have started basic income then. It is better to start ironing the bugs out before the tidal wave actually hits.
But still, the more voice to it, the better.
But still, the more voice to it, the better.
As life continues to evolve around us, basic income is a smart component of an infrastructure for the 21st century and beyond.
November 6, 2025 at 7:27 PM
As life continues to evolve around us, basic income is a smart component of an infrastructure for the 21st century and beyond.
The key to basic income has always been the unconditionality.
It is what is groundbreaking. This is more than robots and poverty. It is saying we value you, we trust you, we will invest in you as a member of our community.
It is what is groundbreaking. This is more than robots and poverty. It is saying we value you, we trust you, we will invest in you as a member of our community.
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The key to basic income has always been the unconditionality.
It is what is groundbreaking. This is more than robots and poverty. It is saying we value you, we trust you, we will invest in you as a member of our community.
It is what is groundbreaking. This is more than robots and poverty. It is saying we value you, we trust you, we will invest in you as a member of our community.
Ask yourself this simple question:
How would society be doing if people across the board weren't making enough? If even the federal poverty line was artificially too low?
Yep. Now look outside.
How would society be doing if people across the board weren't making enough? If even the federal poverty line was artificially too low?
Yep. Now look outside.
October 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Ask yourself this simple question:
How would society be doing if people across the board weren't making enough? If even the federal poverty line was artificially too low?
Yep. Now look outside.
How would society be doing if people across the board weren't making enough? If even the federal poverty line was artificially too low?
Yep. Now look outside.
There is one kind of work that is not recognized, would be very unlikely to be automated, is responsible for all other work, and is done by what economics strangely calls "non-primary producers"
Writer and former New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring on the @TEDTalks stage:
Writer and former New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring on the @TEDTalks stage:
October 25, 2025 at 6:35 PM
There is one kind of work that is not recognized, would be very unlikely to be automated, is responsible for all other work, and is done by what economics strangely calls "non-primary producers"
Writer and former New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring on the @TEDTalks stage:
Writer and former New Zealand politician Marilyn Waring on the @TEDTalks stage:
The people know what to spend it on. The people is where productivity comes from. The people are the ones who should be invested in first.
Basic income:
The people's economy.
Basic income:
The people's economy.
October 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
The people know what to spend it on. The people is where productivity comes from. The people are the ones who should be invested in first.
Basic income:
The people's economy.
Basic income:
The people's economy.
My side hustle is saying noone should need a side hustle.
October 23, 2025 at 9:42 AM
My side hustle is saying noone should need a side hustle.
It didnt have to be like that then.
It doesn't have to be like this now.
It doesn't have to be like this now.
October 22, 2025 at 6:06 PM
It didnt have to be like that then.
It doesn't have to be like this now.
It doesn't have to be like this now.
From his writing: Basic Income and the Labour Contract (2009)
October 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
From his writing: Basic Income and the Labour Contract (2009)
The Statute of Artificers, 1563 said no craftsman could refuse work until 60 for men, 40 for women (most would, of course, be gone by then).
Why again is technology seen as a threat and not a glimpse of part of the path to human flourishing? It can be claimed as part of a progressive stance.
Why again is technology seen as a threat and not a glimpse of part of the path to human flourishing? It can be claimed as part of a progressive stance.
October 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM
The Statute of Artificers, 1563 said no craftsman could refuse work until 60 for men, 40 for women (most would, of course, be gone by then).
Why again is technology seen as a threat and not a glimpse of part of the path to human flourishing? It can be claimed as part of a progressive stance.
Why again is technology seen as a threat and not a glimpse of part of the path to human flourishing? It can be claimed as part of a progressive stance.
Incomes havent caught up more and more for decades. What if they did? If there really is a "larger pie" then why arent people feeling that?
What if they did?
What if they did?
October 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Incomes havent caught up more and more for decades. What if they did? If there really is a "larger pie" then why arent people feeling that?
What if they did?
What if they did?
It's not the other. It’s the system. Much in the same way it was the system and not the other last time.
October 19, 2025 at 3:41 AM
It's not the other. It’s the system. Much in the same way it was the system and not the other last time.
Those darn woke Opuses
October 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Those darn woke Opuses
Hasn't come out in direct support like Francis yet, but...
October 17, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Hasn't come out in direct support like Francis yet, but...
You deserve to exist. Just that. In a society like that, people are able to decide their own futures, without restrictions, feeling their starting from somewhere without controlling voices holding them back.
October 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
You deserve to exist. Just that. In a society like that, people are able to decide their own futures, without restrictions, feeling their starting from somewhere without controlling voices holding them back.
Basic income gets pushed against because it says we should learn to trust each other up front, without condition, without anyone having to prove anything first.
October 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Basic income gets pushed against because it says we should learn to trust each other up front, without condition, without anyone having to prove anything first.
From what would be later described, after sporadic moments in history of support, as part of the first wave of basic income support.
Needless to say, basic income is not a new concept.
Needless to say, basic income is not a new concept.
October 11, 2025 at 6:33 PM
From what would be later described, after sporadic moments in history of support, as part of the first wave of basic income support.
Needless to say, basic income is not a new concept.
Needless to say, basic income is not a new concept.
Pulling at one's bootstraps takes owning boots first.
October 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Pulling at one's bootstraps takes owning boots first.