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Analysis of Universal Basic Income and the labour market, from a libertarian perspective

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Libertarianism covers a wide range of political stances, from
left-libertarianism through to anarcho-capitalism. The thing they
have in common is that they promote freedom (although in
completely different ways).
In this article I'm going to consider Universal Basic Income (UBI) from a libertarian perspective, focusing mainly on analysis of the labour market, rather than the much more common libertarian "small state" argument in favour of UBI.

The crux of the article

The current labour market is terribly unfree as it is because it relies on coercion, workfare, sanctions, draconian anti-labour legislation etc.

The introduction of Universal Basic Income would would create a much freer labour market (no more threat of destitution, sanctions or forced labour schemes, and much freer labour contracts between employers and employees), but this increased freedom for the majority would come at the expense of necessary measures in order to control inflation (which would rapidly destroy the project if left unchecked).

The reduction in aggression against the majority of workers would outweigh the infringements on the current rights that rentiers have to exploit access to basic commodities in order to extract profit for themselves (which it can be argued is another form of aggression against the majority anyway).

Dollar

Here's how Obamacare rips off young adults

Obamacare
© Desconocido

Obamacare is still struggling to sign up young people. In order to offset the high cost of the older, and probably less healthy people who are joining Obamacare plans, the White House must coerce a sufficient number of thirty-somethings to also join. Problem is, the health plans are too pricey to make economic sense for many young adults.

Just how costly are the Obamacare plans for young beneficiaries?

We ran the numbers. Here are our results:

Overall, the Federal government reports that 32% of on-exchange enrollees as of March 1st are under the age of 34. And many of these are teenagers who are part of family policies, not the young yuppies that Obamacare is fervently targeting. Earlier estimates showed only 20% of enrollees were between the ages 18 and 34.

The final number of young enrollees is well below the required cohort. Premiums will rise next year as a result of the adverse selection of older, and probably less healthy consumers. Why are young adults staying away? In one word, economics.

Bomb

At least six people killed and 25 injured in three bomb blasts in Nairobi


At least six people have been killed and up to 25 injured after three bombs were thrown in a busy part of the predominantly-Somali area of Kenya's capital, Nairobi.

The blasts on Monday targeted roadside food stalls and restaurants in the Eastleigh suburb of the city, known as "Little Mogadishu" for its large immigrant population.

The first hit a roadside where women were selling food. Two more were thrown into separate restaurants. Most of the victims were believed to have died in one of the restaurants.

Heart - Black

Outrageous! Filthy rich heir convicted of raping his children dodges jail because he 'will not fare well'

richards IV
Robert H. Richards IV: The face of the one percenter who got away with raping his children!
A Delaware man convicted of raping his three-year-old daughter only faced probation after a state Superior Court judge ruled he "will not fare well" in prison.

In her decision, Judge Jan Jurden suggested Robert H. Richards IV would benefit more from treatment. Richards, who was charged with fourth-degree rape in 2009, is an unemployed heir living off his trust fund.

Evil Rays

U.K.: Architect stabbed wife, killed mother-in-law and himself in gas explosion after discovering his marriage was over

Rafie murder suicide
Hassan Rafie killed his wife Mahnaz and her mother at the couple's home in Bolton
An architect stabbed his wife to death before blowing up his own house, killing himself and his mother-in-law, an inquest heard yesterday.

A few days earlier, Hassan Rafie had warned his wife Mahnaz: 'You leave me, I will kill you and kill myself - if I can't have you no one else can.'

He then tampered with a gas meter in order to trigger an explosion and fire which killed his mother-in-law Dolleh Mohanaei, who was in an upstairs bedroom at the couple's house in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Heart - Black

Malnourished boy found in closet of Texas home by teenage step-brother

malnourished boy texas
© Screen grab from KHOU-TV, HoustonThe appearance of the 5-year-old victim caused deputies to immediately summon Emergency Service personnel and he was transported to a hospital
A Texas couple was arrested and charged with keeping a 5-year-old malnourished boy inside the stairway closet of their home.

Investigators said the child was found in his diaper in the small closet by his 16-year-old stepbrother Thursday night. The teen confronted his stepfather, Bradley Bleimeyer, and the two got into a fist fight.

By the time police arrived to the Spring, Texas, home, they said the victim's stepmother, Tammi Bleimeyer, and biological father took off with the little boy.

On Friday, deputies used cellphone data to track down the couple at a motel in Humble, about 13 miles away. The appearance of the 5-year-old victim caused deputies to immediately summon Emergency Service personnel and he was transported to a hospital, deputies said.

Water

Humanitarian crisis: Food and water shortage in western Myanmar

Myanmar food shortage
© Agence France-PresseFood shortages loom as aid workers flee west Myanmar
Aid groups have warned of humanitarian crisis in western Myanmar, as thousands of people, mainly Muslims, are facing food and water shortage.

Humanitarian aid workers, who were forced to flee the region due to violence, warned on Monday that in the next two weeks, food stocks will run out and at least 20,000 displaced people living in camps will be without clean water in 10 days.

Tens of thousands of displaced people, of whom mostly are stateless Rohingya Muslims, live in bleak camps in the troubled state of Rakhine.

Airplane

Final words from Flight MH370: 'Good night Malaysian three seven zero', as officials change account of last communication

goodnight malaysian 370
The last words from the cockpit of the crashed Malaysian plane were a standard "Good night Malaysian three seven zero".
The Malaysian government has changed its account of the final voice transmission from the missing jetliner.

It came as Australia deployed a modified Boeing 737 to act as a flying air traffic controller over the Indian Ocean to prevent a mid-air collision among the large number of aircraft searching for Flight 370.

Malaysia has been criticised for its handling of the search, particularly its communications to the media and the relatives of the passengers.

In a development likely to fuel those concerns, the government gave a new account of the final voice transmission from the cockpit.

In a statement, it said the final words received by ground controllers at 1.19 am local time on March 8 were: "Good night Malaysian three-seven-zero."

Comment: CNN host Don Lemon 'puts it out there': Was lost Malaysian flight taken by 'supernatural' forces?


Footprints

Israel threatened with expulsion by FIFA over treatment of Palestinian footballers

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© UnknownPalestinian football players
The Inside World Football website said in a report on Monday that FIFA gave Israel until summer to improve playing conditions and travel for the Palestinian players and officials.

FIFA also warned that Israel would face a complete expulsion from the international federation if it fails to address the issue.

FIFA has launched a mediation task force over the matter.

Palestinian football official Jibril Rajoub has met with FIFA President Sepp Blatter in an effort to resolve the long-term difficulties Palestinian footballers face due to Israel's policies.

Cult

The Ku Klux Klan wants you! New recruitment drive with leaflet drop in towns across America

KKK recruitment poster
KKK recruitment leaflets
The Ku Klux Klan is on a recruitment drive across America with a new leafleting campaign, as membership numbers grow due to opposition to Barack Obama and increased immigration.

Residents of towns in Texas, Louisiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania emerged from their houses over the weekend to find fliers attached to their doors, car windscreens or on the front lawn declaring "The KKK wants you."

The leaflets depict the outline of a hooded figure in white robes with Klan insignia pointing at the reader in the style of traditional military recruiting posters, complete with phone numbers and websites.

The Klan and its latest campaign are legal under the US's strong constitutional right to free speech. The white supremacy group, which aims to oust Mr Obama and stem immigration, is also against interracial marriage and homosexuality. In their contemporary guise, Klan leaders promote non-violent defence of whites "in the race war against us", according to one website.