Well! Well! Well! Wouldn’t it be great if all of us could just “throw back” and yet get US$5000 or Gy$1.1 million bucks a year – or more, if the conversion rate goes up?? Well, if you vote for the WPA, or the PNC, or the AFC come 2025, and they win the elections, you could just see that happening!!
Isn’t it great??
Clive Thomas, the WPA Elder, had made that suggestion in Buxton at a time when he had been a member of the PNC coalition; but they didn’t pay him no mind – just like when he had been a member of the Sugar COI and Granger had ignored his recommendations!! But Norton had picked up the idea!! Why not? Free money might buy votes!!
But what do you say to the elder who’d suggested, back in the day, that we cut all trade relations with capitalist countries, or else we’d never develop!! Burnham had ignored him – but then HE had had his own wacko ideas on the economy!! Over in China, where they’re also Marxist like Thomas, they INCREASED trade with the capitalist countries, and today they’re about to overtake the US as the largest economy in the world!! Thomas’s advice was taken by Chavez in Venezuela, and look where THEY are today!!
Now every politician ‘bigs up’ spending on people to get their votes. Something for nothing attracts, no?? In fact, they’ve got a name for one version of putting money in citizens’ pockets for just being citizens. It’s called Universal Basic Income (UBI), and while no country has implemented it, there’s some talk. Now, the idea of a UBI ain’t new; in fact, Plato mentioned one version in his Utopian Republic. And that’s why “utopian” has a bad name!!
Right now, there are “welfare” economies wherein quite a few services are provided to the needy “free” by the government. Like here in Mudland, where we got free medical care and education. So, is the Opposition gonna give the million bucks only to those who need some help because of, say, joblessness?? Naaah!! they want EVERYBODY to get the big bucks!! And your Eyewitness really has a problem with THAT; so, maybe we ought to create a basic needs category of citizens to get help??
Now, even if oil steadies at US$80/barrel, we’re earning some US$2.5 billion at the 14.5% Exxon contract rate, but will be dishing out US$1+billion to the present 200,000 families – which are expected to increase!! Does that make sense? How about imitating China and creating jobs while improving infrastructure and facilities and welfare services?? Like the Govt’s doing?
Based on human psychology, we know that even if it’s a made-up job, folks have self-respect when earning their money. Gwan da side with cheap politics!!
…as min wage
Your Eyewitness notes that there’s now a minimum wage of $60,000 monthly for private industries. This, of course, translates to $720,000 annually for working staff getting that minimum wage. And the first thing you’d notice is that it’s less than the $1,100,000 Clive Thomas wants to give every Tom, Dick and Harrilall!! The question that’s been asked in cases like this – where the UBI will exceed the minimum wage – is: “Will those workers then show up for their minimum wage work?”
Some may say that those minimum wage workers will see their UBI as a boost or “top- up” of their take home pay, and will keep on working. Finland tried a pilot program with UBI replacing unemployment benefits, and it showed no appreciable change on employment rates one way or the other. This pretty much supports your Eyewitness’s position, and he feels that’s the way to go. At present, the Government has already rolled out several grant programmes to several categories of needy citizens.
This can be regularised.
…for Eddy
During his 2020 re-election campaign, Trump and his staff used one of Eddy Grant’s songs in a campaign spot. Eddy sued for copyright infringement – and now he’s won!!
Will he donate his winnings to Sister Kamala??
