Unconditional basic income – a tool for a socially-fair society and “Good work”
Economic change is in full swing and words like globalisation, flexibilisation and individualisation are being used to describe it. The underlying philosophy calls for growth and profit at any price and free rein to be given to capital interests, although few benefit from this liberalisation, many have to live with the consequences of mass unemployment, poverty, social exclusion and loss of perspective. Also affected are those in paid employment, but whose job loses its significance as a meaningful and socially-integrating element. In particular, “Good work”, which provides security and personal development opportunities, is in short supply and, more and more, is being replaced by insecure, flexibilised and, sometimes, non-existing working conditions. Work and social security are, however, the basis of a socially-pacified society. Its basis is human dignity.
Unconditional basic income is a tool for ensuring root and branch changes to social security and employment. The aim is an increase in solidarity and self-determination. An unconditional basic income would reconcile life and work, individual freedom and social collaboration.
With an unconditional basic income, every citizen will have an individual, legal claim to a monetary humane existence guaranteed by the community. Basic income would be treated as a human right.
The following four criteria are constituent elements of all basic income models:
- Universal: a legal claim for all citizens, both female and male, independent of income, assets and lifestyle.
- Individual-related: individual claims from the day of birth, independent securing of existence for every woman, man and child. No reciprocal allowances with regard to communities of need.
- Existence-securing: guaranteeing the social-cultural minimum existence, i.e. a lifestyle corresponding to the social and cultural standard that guarantees social partnership and participation.
- Unconditional: no checks, no sanctions, no enforced work and a positive image of mankind.
