system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
All political philosophy aside, is Basic Income actually affordable or economically viable in any way now, or in the foreseeable future?
gpt
This question is completely impossible to answer. 

What's the Basic Income level you're targeting? The poverty line? Twice the poverty line? Half? $10? 

What's the clawback rate? Are you planning a hard-limit on the eligibility of benefits or a soft cap?

One of the main ideas behind Basic Income is that it can promote efficiency in government. Instead of a mish-mash of different benefits according to your specific circumstance, the government offers a single program that everyone is eligible for if they have a low enough income. So, which programs and/or benefits would you eliminate after Basic Income is introduced? Workers tax credits? Old age tax credits? Employment insurance?


Basically, Basic Income is a broad term describing the way in which taxes are collected. It'd be affordable at some levels and unaffordable at others. Unless you give some clue of how you picture it working, there's no way to answer.