As far as "utopian" goes, I'd say that many of you are much more utopian in outlook than I am. I see the flaws in government, but also in the private sector. And, I'd like to improve both - that doesn't mean I think there are perfect solutions. As I've already said - all systems have draw...

Am I being silly not wanting to go on Medicaid? I've heard horror stories, but if it's a secret gift horse, then I'm a lot closer to FI than I thought. :P It galls me that there's no option, though. Yes, that's exactly what you should do, given that you're a well-educated, working professional with...

Am I being silly not wanting to go on Medicaid? I've heard horror stories, but if it's a secret gift horse, then I'm a lot closer to FI than I thought. :P It galls me that there's no option, though. Yes, that's exactly what you should do, given that you're a well-educated, working professional with...

If the goal is to keep people out of poverty, we'd really have to use different figures for different areas, and that makes things more complicated. Yes, its a problem, but in this age of computing power where we can track literally hundreds of different sales tax rates for every locality, its not ...

So far, nobody has said they'd be more productive if they got a cd.

They'd either improve their situation, sometimes with luxury items, invest money, quit their job, retire earlier, save more money, etc. Not one person has said they'd work more or produce more.

Why has nobody responded to my questions about WiseOne's tax/neutrality idea? I hope you at least read it - it would mean that not only aren't millionaires getting a CD, they're actually getting a net loss of income through higher taxes to fund the program.

As far as "utopian" goes, I'd say that many of you are much more utopian in outlook than I am. I see the flaws in government, but also in the private sector. And, I'd like to improve both - that doesn't mean I think there are perfect solutions. As I've already said - all systems have drawb...

Am I being silly not wanting to go on Medicaid? I've heard horror stories, but if it's a secret gift horse, then I'm a lot closer to FI than I thought. :P It galls me that there's no option, though. Yes, that's exactly what you should do, given that you're a well-educated, working professional with...

Every time I've looked at ACA plans I've found very good ones with reasonable premiums and cost-sharing stuff as well. You have to be between 100-400% of the federal poverty level, with good subsidies at the lower end of that. The "silver" plan is the best, with cost sharing as well as pr...

So this would help PS do things he could do already, but isn't doing. And, given the fact that he could easily do them now, in his own words, he doesn't need this program. He needs this program in terms of improving his living standard because the cost of spending his current savings is especially ...

The part I agree with here is that our current system is too complicated/bureaucratic, and that there are some bad incentives in it, ones that discourage what we want to encourage, and vice versa. A cd would simplify the system, for sure. But so would a mi program - just set the minimum income leve...

Actually, if the cd isn't taxed, and it eliminates/replaces SS, we'd do better with it. We could retire sooner, not have to subsidize our retirement until SS kicks in, pay the same or maybe a bit less for health care with an ACA plan (than for Medicare), and wind up with more income in retirement. I...

I understand the idea. But I just don't think it works better than a minimum income program, for one. So far, it might help you fix up your house, or quit your job. For me, it would probably have little effect and, if there were one, it might mean we'd just retire sooner (assuming the ACA is still a...

A Swiss person I read a quote from (could have been an official of some sort) said about the cd program - "If you pay people to do nothing, they'll do nothing".

It sounds like concern about disincentivizing people from working was a big part of why this got voted down there.

So this would help PS do things he could do already, but isn't doing. And, given the fact that he could easily do them now, in his own words, he doesn't need this program. Anybody else? Every time I've looked at ACA plans I've found very good ones with reasonable premiums and cost-sharing stuff as w...

Any federal program that's simple will overlook regional differences, and thus be a bit less satisfying. This is true of cd, mi, minimum wage, poverty level calculations, etc. $1000/month generates vastly different purchasing power in NYC and in rural Mississippi, to use an obvious example. If the g...

The part I agree with here is that our current system is too complicated/bureaucratic, and that there are some bad incentives in it, ones that discourage what we want to encourage, and vice versa. A cd would simplify the system, for sure. But so would a mi program - just set the minimum income level...

A question for citizen's dividend folks. Let's assume that it's implemented, and everybody gets $15K/yr. What would you do if you got that? I'd just put it in the bank or invest it - it wouldn't change anything else for me. Or I might give some to charity as well. In some circumstances, it might res...

I've already answered your comments about disincentives by pointing out that a cd of $15K/yr is equally disincentivizing as a mi program of $15K/yr. You failed to respond to that point at all. It's false. If I have a citizens' dividend of $15K, and I want to start a business, or just go out and ear...

You could also just set them to re-balance every year.

In some ways that's the most "agnostic" approach - figuring we have no idea how things will do next year, regardless of how they've gone this year.

Hey, I figured it out.

But, nobody offered to help

I would probably change the SS system to work in a similar fashion. That would mean if we didn't need it, we wouldn't get it, and that would be fine with me. As it turns out, we'll probably need it, although I've played with the idea of not taking it if that's feasible. I've already answered your co...

Ok - I found a picture I like.

Now I just need to know how to make it my avatar.

I can't just be a mystery, wrapped in an engima? Maybe a little embarrassing, but I have no idea how to go about uploading a picture, or where to find a good one. I play chess often, so perhaps a chess-related picture would be good. Or something musical. Anybody want to give me a little tutorial on ...

Thanks.

I like yours a lot

Well, there's no gallery available to choose from - maybe I'll just leave it for now.