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Comment by k__ | Hacker News Reader

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k__·

Well, it was 2500 bucks.

Maybe 1500 would get more people to vote for it, or something else chagned, etc.

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It wasn't 2500 bucks. The text Switzerland voted on today said something like:

> 1. The Confederation has to implement a basic income.

> 2. This basic income has to be sufficient to live in dignity and participate to public life.

> 3. The basic income amount and financing are regulated by law.

Nothing regarding the exact amount. Swiss people were asked to vote on an idea, not on a specific amount.

Which is exactly what made me turn against it. I want to know what I vote for, leaving it open like that will in the best case lead to a completely watered down compromise and in the worst case a complete mess. The social security system needs to get simplified at the same time. An initiative committee for UBI needs to sit down and come up with a tenable solution, at least for the basic parameters (both spending and financing).

It's exactly how it should be! We generally, like in this case, vote for a change of the constitution. The constitution should not contain specific monetary values like this that need to be regularly adapted anyway, nor would it make sense for people to vote on specific values. We should vote on general ideas and the government, together with specialists, impels implements them. Otherwise it's some kind of micromanagement by the masses.

Thing is that Switzerland is a super-expensive country. 1500 would not actually be enough to live on. You can get 4000 working at the till at a supermarket.

The idea of basic income is not to replace jobs. The idea is to give you the basics of living and food. Then you can take on additional work of some kind to improve your overall income.

You could live with 1500 if you really wanted to. Its not impossible.

If you do not need any housing (or maybe am ok with a very remote small room)

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