RE: My thoughts on a Universal Income.
Absolutely agree. That's essential that the U.S. government does massive audits. I think that public apathy breeds a political climate that encourages actions that produce politically expedient results that waste enormous amounts of money. I think this is widely found from both parties in the U.S. Government - the military industrial complex, lack of cost controls in the U.S. healthcare system to appease pharmaceutical corporate lobbyists, etc. On the local level in NY state for example, the NYC subway has been lead to financial ruin due to the transfer of transit allocated funds for other politically expedient uses. Common people need to participate in government in at least small ways (voting is a good start), in order for good (let alone efficient) government to exist.
To try and answer the question of where the money comes from though - taxation coupled with attempts to controls costs, and efficiency of government process and allocation. Especially for the U.S., we are talking about slashing taxes during a moment when we are so deeply entrenched in global military operations that it is staggering. I believe during the 1940's through the 1960's the U.S. taxed income over $3 Million at 94%. That was a time of incredible growth. Considering how much the U.S. has in debt, let alone the fact we are in perpetual war time, it seems astoundingly irresponsible that we do not have Post WW2 type taxation in place. Such a taxation scheme would ideally be in place to help fund the ideal social services that are usually discussed, including UBI, but it is essential that costs are controlled - the healthcare industry is exhibit A of this. The housing sector is the next obvious place to consider because it is the most obvious fundamental expense that UBI would be used for.