Charles Dillane
@charles-dillane.bsky.social
Mercurial. Mysterious. Exhausted...
BA (Hons.) in Film Studies from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
BA (Hons.) in Film Studies from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
S. Korea has doubled the budget for its massive universal basic income experiment, increasing the number of rural counties included in it from 7 to 12, and relieving counties of more of the cost. As a result, the number of participants in the 2-yr UBI pilot will go from ~250k to near 400,000 people.
Gov't doubles budget for rural basic income pilot program following local backlash
The budget for President Lee Jae Myung’s rural basic income initiative — a major campaign pledge — has been doubled at the pilot stage, following protests from local governments that were excluded fro...
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 PM
S. Korea has doubled the budget for its massive universal basic income experiment, increasing the number of rural counties included in it from 7 to 12, and relieving counties of more of the cost. As a result, the number of participants in the 2-yr UBI pilot will go from ~250k to near 400,000 people.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
If AI succeeds, we need universal basic income, and if AI fails, we need universal basic income. Also, we should have implemented UBI decades ago when working class incomes first decoupled from productivity growth.
So if AI succeeds loads of people lose their jobs as they're replaced by AI, and if AI fails, loads of people lose their jobs as the economy crashes?
It’s amazing how this story has gone from 0 to 60 in UK press. There’s been no mainstream coverage to date but this morning the story is leading BBC News site & bulletins.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
If AI succeeds, we need universal basic income, and if AI fails, we need universal basic income. Also, we should have implemented UBI decades ago when working class incomes first decoupled from productivity growth.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Wealth taxes = collect more than expected & *don't* drive rich people away
UBI = works everywhere it's tried and contributes more to the economy than it costs
There's no reason not to implement both.
UBI = works everywhere it's tried and contributes more to the economy than it costs
There's no reason not to implement both.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Wealth taxes = collect more than expected & *don't* drive rich people away
UBI = works everywhere it's tried and contributes more to the economy than it costs
There's no reason not to implement both.
UBI = works everywhere it's tried and contributes more to the economy than it costs
There's no reason not to implement both.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Universal basic income is nothing less than a goddamn human right just as much as universal healthcare and education are. And I don't care if anyone works less because we should be working less. We should have shorter weeks instead of bullshit jobs. We have the productive capacity to meet ALL NEEDS.
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Universal basic income is nothing less than a goddamn human right just as much as universal healthcare and education are. And I don't care if anyone works less because we should be working less. We should have shorter weeks instead of bullshit jobs. We have the productive capacity to meet ALL NEEDS.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
‘It’s kind of scary.’ Tired of fair-weather work, jobless youths wonder if budget’s $1.6B will solve crisis
Tired of fair-weather work, Canadian jobless youths wonder if budget's $1.6B will solve the crisis
With youth unemployment nearly 15%, experts are cautiously optimistic over Liberal budget, but 'it doesn't really speak to the reality that a lot of young people are facing.'
www.thestar.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:02 PM
‘It’s kind of scary.’ Tired of fair-weather work, jobless youths wonder if budget’s $1.6B will solve crisis
Reposted by Charles Dillane
None of the 8 senators are mine. I have no senator because I live in DC. I rely on others to do the right thing and this wasn't it. I am so angry right now. Absolutely livid. How dare you capitulate like this in a win-win situation where all you had to do was hold strong. You weaklings. YOU COWARDS.
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
None of the 8 senators are mine. I have no senator because I live in DC. I rely on others to do the right thing and this wasn't it. I am so angry right now. Absolutely livid. How dare you capitulate like this in a win-win situation where all you had to do was hold strong. You weaklings. YOU COWARDS.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
So many problems would be solved by having universal healthcare, a living wage for all workers, and universal basic income, but this country insists on keeping a political system that serves the mega-rich and powerful lobbies instead of the American people.
November 10, 2025 at 6:34 AM
So many problems would be solved by having universal healthcare, a living wage for all workers, and universal basic income, but this country insists on keeping a political system that serves the mega-rich and powerful lobbies instead of the American people.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Mere hours after the Democrats cave on health care — and less than a week after the only encouraging sign of electoral push back against the right-wing disregard for of the nation's laws and founding principles — we get this news that their attacks on voting rights may be advancing further.
Breaking News: The Supreme Court said that it would hear a challenge to a Mississippi law that could upend mail-ballot rules in many states before the midterm elections.
Supreme Court to Hear Major Challenge to Mail-In Ballot Laws
The justices agreed to hear a challenge to Mississippi’s law, a case that could upend similar measures in dozens of states before the 2026 election.
nyti.ms
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Mere hours after the Democrats cave on health care — and less than a week after the only encouraging sign of electoral push back against the right-wing disregard for of the nation's laws and founding principles — we get this news that their attacks on voting rights may be advancing further.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
UBI opens up a lot of space for all sorts of monetizable but hard to get off the ground professions like journalism. UBI would pave way to fix outrage slop media because real journalists could actually survive.
Universal Basic Income ( #UBI ) programs have been tried, tested and proven to save money and improve quality of life overall. If it was already in place in #Canada, the country would have been in a much better financial position to fight the nonsense from USA.
#StuckInARut
#Elderly
#Disabled
#StuckInARut
#Elderly
#Disabled
November 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
UBI opens up a lot of space for all sorts of monetizable but hard to get off the ground professions like journalism. UBI would pave way to fix outrage slop media because real journalists could actually survive.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
EV and hybrid sales soar in Australia as internal combustion cars fall below 70% market share for first time
EV and hybrid sales soar in Australia as internal combustion cars fall below 70% market share for first time
Data from peak motoring body shows battery-electric vehicles accounted for 9.7% of new cars sold in September quarter, the highest proportion on record
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Electric car sales in Australia continue to reach new record levels, according to figures that reveal the market share for internal combustion engine vehicles fell below 70% for the first time.
The latest quarterly sales data from peak motoring body the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows electric vehicles accounted for 9.7% of new cars sold in the three months to September, the highest proportion on record. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
EV and hybrid sales soar in Australia as internal combustion cars fall below 70% market share for first time
Reposted by Charles Dillane
GIFT LINK - My Toronto Star op-ed on the federal budget, and the failure to account for provincial action on post-secondary education. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Mark Carney’s budget is blind to the real causes of Canada’s problems
The prime minister's first budget emphasizes infrastructure and resource extraction but fails to leverage our most significant economic drivers.
www.thestar.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:48 PM
GIFT LINK - My Toronto Star op-ed on the federal budget, and the failure to account for provincial action on post-secondary education. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Charles Dillane
If the government continues down its current path, it will be repeating the mistakes of the 1990s: favouring extreme austerity with no consideration for the consequences.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
Public Sector Job Cuts Undermine the Federal Government’s Commitment to Canadians | Perspectives Journal
There are easy solutions for the government to both raise revenue and rein in spending in a way that is fair and beneficial for Canadians, and that doesn’t compromise services.
perspectivesjournal.ca
November 8, 2025 at 2:04 PM
If the government continues down its current path, it will be repeating the mistakes of the 1990s: favouring extreme austerity with no consideration for the consequences.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
That approach was a disaster in 1994, and it would be worse today.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
That’s a lot of people. The Calgary Herald should really make clear why that piece was pulled.
November 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
That’s a lot of people. The Calgary Herald should really make clear why that piece was pulled.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Fascinating new study here that suggests even an extremely high universal basic income would not have the labor supply impacts that UBI skeptics fear. It suggests that a ~$15,000/mo UBI might only reduce employment by 10% with no impact on those who remain employed.
drive.google.com/file/d/12iDs...
drive.google.com/file/d/12iDs...
November 7, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Fascinating new study here that suggests even an extremely high universal basic income would not have the labor supply impacts that UBI skeptics fear. It suggests that a ~$15,000/mo UBI might only reduce employment by 10% with no impact on those who remain employed.
drive.google.com/file/d/12iDs...
drive.google.com/file/d/12iDs...
Reposted by Charles Dillane
The real message Ontario's fall economic statement delivered is that there is no help on the way for Ontario families and communities by @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Ontario Fall Economic Statement: No help on the way - CCPA
Last May, CCPA’s detailed analysis of the Ontario budget argued that it failed to address years-long funding shortfalls, leaving the province vulnerable to the economic storm on the horizon.
www.policyalternatives.ca
November 6, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The real message Ontario's fall economic statement delivered is that there is no help on the way for Ontario families and communities by @ricardotranjan.bsky.social
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Reposted by Charles Dillane
"This budget seems to have a case of mistaken identity [...] Instead of making historic investments to modernize and update health and social care, they are asking under-resourced systems to increasingly do more, with less."
Read the latest from @danyaalraza.com : www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Read the latest from @danyaalraza.com : www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
"This budget seems to have a case of mistaken identity [...] Instead of making historic investments to modernize and update health and social care, they are asking under-resourced systems to increasingly do more, with less."
Read the latest from @danyaalraza.com : www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Read the latest from @danyaalraza.com : www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Reposted by Charles Dillane
BREAKING: Dick Cheney dies at 84
Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84
Cheney redefined the office of vice president.
www.axios.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:38 AM
BREAKING: Dick Cheney dies at 84
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Carney defenders keep telling me he's retaining most climate change policies while I keep seeing him slowing taking an axe to a bunch of them.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Liberals scrapping 2 billion trees target as part of budget: sources | CBC News
The Liberal government is dropping its goal to plant two billion trees by 2031 as part of Tuesday's budget, according to sources familiar with the matter.
www.cbc.ca
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Carney defenders keep telling me he's retaining most climate change policies while I keep seeing him slowing taking an axe to a bunch of them.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Reposted by Charles Dillane
I've been researching the idea of Unconditional Universal Basic Income since 2013. Here's a collection of findings I've compiled from various UBI experiments and studies of cash transfer programs around the world.
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
December 5, 2024 at 3:47 PM
I've been researching the idea of Unconditional Universal Basic Income since 2013. Here's a collection of findings I've compiled from various UBI experiments and studies of cash transfer programs around the world.
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
This will be a VERY LONG and ongoing thread focused entirely on empirical evidence. 🧵
Reposted by Charles Dillane
"We can't have Universal Basic Income"
"Why?"
"Because it discourages people from looking for work and we can't afford it"
"Why can't we afford it?"
"Because we need to give massive corporations tax breaks"
"Why?"
"Because they're the job creators"
"But they're not creating jobs anymore?"
"........"
"Why?"
"Because it discourages people from looking for work and we can't afford it"
"Why can't we afford it?"
"Because we need to give massive corporations tax breaks"
"Why?"
"Because they're the job creators"
"But they're not creating jobs anymore?"
"........"
November 3, 2025 at 11:08 AM
"We can't have Universal Basic Income"
"Why?"
"Because it discourages people from looking for work and we can't afford it"
"Why can't we afford it?"
"Because we need to give massive corporations tax breaks"
"Why?"
"Because they're the job creators"
"But they're not creating jobs anymore?"
"........"
"Why?"
"Because it discourages people from looking for work and we can't afford it"
"Why can't we afford it?"
"Because we need to give massive corporations tax breaks"
"Why?"
"Because they're the job creators"
"But they're not creating jobs anymore?"
"........"
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Given the discussion about food banks and hunger in the United States, it’s worth noting Ottawa Public Health reports that 25% of families faced food insecurity in 2024. On average it costs $1180 (CAD) to feed a family of four.
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/11/02/h...?
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/11/02/h...?
Healthy eating for family of 4 costs $1,180/month, many Ottawaans cannot afford it
Food insecurity continues to rise in Ottawa and across the country as wages do not meet the costs of basic needs.
ottawa.citynews.ca
November 2, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Given the discussion about food banks and hunger in the United States, it’s worth noting Ottawa Public Health reports that 25% of families faced food insecurity in 2024. On average it costs $1180 (CAD) to feed a family of four.
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/11/02/h...?
ottawa.citynews.ca/2025/11/02/h...?
Reposted by Charles Dillane
The entire purpose of the conservative movement has been tearing down public goods and any policies that limit or hinder in any way corporate profiteering and wealth accumulation by the powerful elite.
It abhors the social contract.
Destruction of modern society is the goal.
It abhors the social contract.
Destruction of modern society is the goal.
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The entire purpose of the conservative movement has been tearing down public goods and any policies that limit or hinder in any way corporate profiteering and wealth accumulation by the powerful elite.
It abhors the social contract.
Destruction of modern society is the goal.
It abhors the social contract.
Destruction of modern society is the goal.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Overconfidence in "econometrics" at the expense of sound analysis of the politics of policy-making. A long-standing issue that should, by now, be well-known.
The key to understanding Carney‘s politics is, as an economist, he sees the world in terms of models. That’s what he meant when he promised to “govern in econometrics.” But that only works when a) your model somewhat reflects reality, and b) one remembers that models are simplifications of reality.
Will Carney’s budget finally reveal where the prime minister is taking Canada?
The Liberals won the election on Carney’s promise to “win” the trade war with Trump. So now what?
www.thestar.com
November 2, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Overconfidence in "econometrics" at the expense of sound analysis of the politics of policy-making. A long-standing issue that should, by now, be well-known.
Reposted by Charles Dillane
Former PM Chrétien telling it like it is.
Clear insights into Smith and Alberta as well as some truth about our "free trade" agreements with the USA.
"Chrétien also noted “we never had a real free trade agreement” since the Americans signed NAFTA but were “not
1/2
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Clear insights into Smith and Alberta as well as some truth about our "free trade" agreements with the USA.
"Chrétien also noted “we never had a real free trade agreement” since the Americans signed NAFTA but were “not
1/2
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Alberta premier ‘cannot double-talk’ about Ottawa depending on her interests: Chrétien | CBC News
Former Liberal prime minister Jean Chrétien is taking a swing at Alberta’s simmering separatist movement, and says Premier Danielle Smith “cannot double-talk all the time” about Ottawa depending on he...
www.cbc.ca
November 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Former PM Chrétien telling it like it is.
Clear insights into Smith and Alberta as well as some truth about our "free trade" agreements with the USA.
"Chrétien also noted “we never had a real free trade agreement” since the Americans signed NAFTA but were “not
1/2
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Clear insights into Smith and Alberta as well as some truth about our "free trade" agreements with the USA.
"Chrétien also noted “we never had a real free trade agreement” since the Americans signed NAFTA but were “not
1/2
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...