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RE: So you think universal basic income is "free money" or "socialism"? Think again.
Your mention of cryptocurrencies reminds me of Grantcoin, which is, as you suggested, a cryptocurrency designed for use as a universal basic income.
I signed up for it and recieved my first grant in July. Unfortunately, at this point there aren't many exchanges that accept it and even though the grant was 1000 coins, the value of them was only a dollar (U.S.) or so.
None the less, it seems to be growing, as it seems the idea of UBI seems to be going traction so I expect, in time, it will because more valuable.
Anyone interested in looking into it can go here:
And if you use this referral code:
d9skr75ta8
We both get a bonus on the next grant, which I believe just changed from a quarterly payout to monthly.
Edit: Spelling
Yeah, I've received each of the Grantcoin payouts so far, and am looking forward to seeing how the relaunch as Manna goes.
Latest update: http://www.grantcoin.org/2017/08/30/manna-relaunch-progress-report/
I'll check this out.
As I see, the signup process is complicated and they collect personal information like a postal address and phone number.
How else would they prevent multiple sign ups?
If personal information is collected, the denial of payment can always be used as a weapon of control. Preventing multiple sign ups should be the responsibility of the people tasked with running the program, and not the responsibility of the poor to be used to extort them into being controlled. Given a choice, I'd rather everyone be dirt poor, than controlled by a centralized carrot and stick. Luckily, we have many options other than these.
Um, if the blockchain can be co-opted for the purpose of control, then I don't see what difference the ID makes. Are you seriously suggesting that anyone that has you phone number and address holds some sort of power over you?
Any attempt to use it as a means of coercion (by whom? the witnesses?) would be transparent in the ledger. Since its whole reason for existing is to provide UBI, breech of that would mean the currency becoming worthless as its unique selling point would be proven to be fraudulent.
When you say we have many other options to providing UBI, it would be interesting to hear what you think these are.
As for prefering everyone be dirt poor, I think a mass population of dirt poor is more easilly coerced than a population with UBI. Dirt poor eat what they are given and sleep where they can. A population with UBI has economic agency to buy what they want.
Are you seriously suggesting that anyone that has your phone number and address doesn't have the information necessary to hold some sort of power over you?
The main reason I use Steemit is the anonymity.
I'm suggesting the only power they have over me is the power to contact me or send me things in the post. Do you worry about the pizza delivery guy having your address and phonenumber? Or the taxi you ordered? Your friends you invited over for a party?
That's quite a pack of straw men.
Do you post your bank account number and pin number on the blockchain? Do you post your address and where you keep your spare key?
For business, I try to provide, only those who need it to do business with me, the information necessary to do so. Personal associations have their own uncertainties, and I am sparing in my distribution of my personal information.
Try having your identity thieved and abused, and then let me know what you think.
There are other options in the world than being clinically paranoid or lying naked in the middle of the road with butt cheeks spread wide.
You think they store the address and phonenumber in the blockchain? Ah, I guess that explains your reaction. Perhaps if you'd explained that fear in the first instance...
I can't reassure you on that, as to tell the truth I assumed it would be better organized, and in any case I plan to move soon, so the details I gave will become redundant before too long. Personally, for what it is worth, I doubt the details are stored in the blockchain, and if they are, I doubt they are stored unencrypted. That would be really bad design.
Maybe it's really necessary, it's rather about the level of trust you have towards this service.