It would be far too easy for a government to manipulate its citizens

How exactly?
We live in the Age of Information... the fourth estate is dead.

And btw... debunking Stuff and Criticizing Ideas is easy...
How about you come up with better Solutions for the 50% Jobloss that will hit us by 2030?
And the resulting poverty / Old-age poverty in retirement.

Perhaps write a essay about that ;)

Basic Universal Income is the only Way (imho) to prevent a second French Revolution.
And its perhaps a Bridge toward a Society that one day can manage without Money.

Thats my big Vision... Currency is just a Illusion anyway.

The Way is see it...
If the Government dont come up with Solutions and do so soon...
The People will come up with Solutions and render the Governments even more obsolet.

Just take FIAT Currency and Crytocurrency for example.
Crytocurrency can't be corrupted and it's out of the Governments reach.