Hi Scott. Just to clarify, I meant that the concept of Basic Income gets support (but not universal support) from both left and right.

You are correct, however, in saying that left and right often have very different views about how much Basic Income payments should be.

I hope left and right will eventually be able to agree on the principle of having a Basic Income system. Then, once a Basic Income system of some sort is in place, they can engage in healthy annual arguments over whether the Basic Income payments should be increased and by how much.

I don’t think everyone on the left envisages Basic Income as an alternative to work. They don’t all believe the hype about automation causing imminent mass unemployment. Often, they may see Basic Income more as a means to strengthen the negotiating position of workers, so they can get a better deal from employers — a means to make work better, rather than an alternative to work.

Thanks for reading! :)