Buzz
If the sight of 10 Democratic candidates battling it out on one stage left you dizzy last night, you might have missed Andrew Yang's announcement in his opening remarks: He’s pushing forward with his efforts to test a universal basic income (UBI) initiative.
Until September 19, you can enter for a chance to win $1,000 each month for a full year—totaling $12,000, the same amount Yang wants to give every adult American annually. Ten lucky winners will be chosen at random.
No need to donate to his campaign to join; just share your name, email address, and ZIP code. Ten winners will be contacted by the end of November 2020, though it's still unclear when the candidate will begin distributing the funds. Yang is likely to announce winners gradually, perhaps at key moments throughout the campaign to generate buzz. After all, who doesn’t enjoy finding out who’s winning free money and why? I click on nearly every lottery winner story, and I bet you do too.
There's a clear trade-off, so if you're unsure about joining the 'Yang Gang' but still want a chance at $12,000, keep in mind this important rule from the official guidelines. You’ll need to sign a “Publicity Release,” allowing the sponsor to use your name, hometown, and photos or recordings in campaign marketing materials or advertisements, free of charge.
Yang strongly supports the idea of a guaranteed basic income for every American adult, calling it the Freedom Dividend. The program would be funded by a value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services, meaning you would pay a little extra for purchases beyond essentials like food and clothing.
While some critics argue that UBI is just an unnecessary giveaway, past trials in both the U.S. and Canada revealed only a minimal decline in workforce participation, primarily because some parents chose to stay home with their children.
