- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg just wrapped up his Harvard Commencement speech
- Zuckerberg touched on America's economics, health care system and the need to "modernize democracy"
- Zuckerberg also called for universal basic income, echoing other elite members of Silicon Valley
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called on the need to consider universal basic income for Americans during his Harvard Commencement Speech.
Zuckerberg's comments reflect those of other Silicon Valley bigwigs, including Sam Altman, the president of venture capital firm Y Combinator.
"Every generation expands its definition of equality. Now it's time for our generation to define a new social contract," Zuckerberg said during his speech. "We should have a society that measures progress not by economic metrics like GDP but by how many of us have a role we find meaningful. We should explore ideas like universal basic income to make sure everyone has a cushion to try new ideas."
Zuckerberg said that, because he knew he had a safety net if projects like Facebook had failed, he was confident enough to continue on without fear of failing. Others, he said, such as children who need to support households instead of poking away on computers learning how to code, don't have the foundation Zuckerberg had. Universal basic income would provide that sort of cushion, Zuckerberg argued.
Altman's view is similar. A year ago, Altman said he thinks "everyone should have enough money to meet their basic needs—no matter what, especially if there are enough resources to make it possible. We don't yet know how it should look or how to pay for it, but basic income seems a promising way to do this." Altman believes basic income will be possible as technological advancements "generate an abundance of resources" that help decrease the cost of living.
I see Prez Trump as a craftily designed psychological push to make sure we understand the excesses of Bush tea party radicals. In pushing your agenda, it's always best to let the opposing side have the floor to express their flawed ideas for the entire populace.
The truth is that it is inevitable. There are no jobs forthcoming. Robotics and self driving trucks are the future. The looming sword of Damacles is the immense number of foster children entering a job market compounded by autistic and LD children leaving school without any working futures ahead and no subsidized housing available. Parents are unprepared to face the fact that their child will never leave home.
The harsh reality is that social security will be renamed as the GREAT AMERICAN ALLOWANCE increased to cover all so the children who should have been approved for SS will instead have a meager amount while continuing to live at home.
While this prospect may be frightening, there exists the possibility that the cherished retirement fund may be tapped to pay for the needs of the home-bound children. I consider this as the Bush Buddies enabled the attachment of social security lump sums for people taking a subsidized apartment over being homeless and living under a bridge to preserve their future choice of ss payments.
Another step down for the former American Middle Class attaining secure assets like a home.