Basic Income and the Contribution Society

At the moment, with the current way we run our economies and societies, we’re encouraged to work because of what we can get in return.

Many of us have to work, just to be able to acquire essentials. And beyond that, our consumer society works hard to entice us to earn more, so that we can buy ourselves more things — things we might not need, but which we are strongly encouraged to want, desire or even lust after.

The persistent, underlying message is that the more things you can buy for yourself, the more satisfied and contented you will be.

But does that message actually tally with our experience of human nature? Are the people who can buy the most things, actually the happiest and most contended members of society?

Wealthy celebrities hardly seem to be leading the charge to prove that notion correct. Rather than leading contented lives, they seem, as a group, to have no shortage of problems with drink, drugs, broken marriages or even suicide.

Of course, being short of money is no fun. Struggling to pay for essentials can be very disheartening. But once you’ve got what you need and a reasonable amount to enjoy yourself with, other motivations should come more into play. And, very often, they do.