Guaranteed income: Tacoma’s new childish economic scheme
Re: “Woodards, other mayors support guaranteed income program,” (TNT, 7/8).
Tacoma is exploring the bunk notion that universal basic income will be a tide that lifts all boats. The city will no doubt spend millions investigating if this will work while it reels from revenue deficits from COVID-19.
When a portion of the population receives their estimated $500 month, its will squeeze middle-class citizens as prices rise to meet the new income. That’s what happens in all cases of caused inflation (see minimum wage).
The city will charge landowners the bill, and landlords will pass it on to tenants. Imagine having income just outside the required limit to receive this payment; you are now going to be hurting.
This is another failed attempt by politicians to lead through childish economic schemes.
Couple this with Councilman Keith Blocker’s idea to legalize all drugs, and we’ll soon have a Seattle on our hands, no longer a Tacoma.
It is a shame that “leaders” are not able to govern anymore. If the city were smart, it would poach jobs from Seattle, but then it would have to actually govern intelligently.
Jared Kono, University Place
This story was originally published July 22, 2020 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Guaranteed income: Tacoma’s new childish economic scheme."