Universal Basic Income

That's no surprise, it's what has led us to numerous financial collapses over the years, and it's why every president loves to talk about how great the economy is doing under them, even if they 1. aren't actually the person responsible for the economic growth or 2. aren't ensuring that that growth is sustainable. There's a 2013 episode of This American Life that does an incredibly in depth look at the way our disability system has helped hide how bad unemployment is. If a person is on disability, they receive government assistance in the form of monthly income and health care benefits. And this is a noble and valuable service, because for people who have suffered terrible tragedies leaving them incapable of doing work, this gives them an opportunity to not have to live the rest of their lives out in suffering (although it's not like they're making a whole lot). The problem is the disability system is expanding. There are a whole lot of reasons for why this is happening, some of which go back to the idea that we tend to be a reactive nation as opposed to a proactive one. However the issue is that if it continues in this way, we are going to have a major crisis, caused by too many people in the program and not enough workers. This is not an attack on social welfare programs, again, I think they are one of humanity's most noble efforts, and social welfare programs that are run properly (or at least, competently) are a triumph. But this issue in the US isn't going away and it's important to understand that the numbers we are being shown about the economy only show a calm before the storm that will inevitably come. There is hope if we address some of the root causes of this problem, but the people who are on disability now are not going away, and more are piling up as we continue to not fix the problem. Which we obviously can't, if we keep being told our economy is hunky-dory.

With the recent tax plan controversy, lots of people or discussing whether it is more effective to lower taxes or increase welfare programs to provide a "leg up" to people in need. What do you think?

This topic aligns with education as well, but what is your opinion on students receiving government vouchers to attend more expensive schools? Should this program be made available for all students or simply minors? Do the benefits exceed the costs? Personally, I am interested in seeing this program implemented. I think that it might be an interesting way to incentivize public schools to compete more with private schools, and I think it is worth trying.