FOR: Automation is eliminating jobs faster than new ones are created. Universal basic income provides a floor of economic security that allows people to retrain, start businesses, or pursue education. It is not a handout; it is an investment in human potential and social stability during an unprecedented economic transition.
AGAINST: UBI is an enormously expensive band-aid that fails to address the root causes of economic displacement. Instead of handing out checks, we should invest in targeted job training programs, education reform, and infrastructure projects that create meaningful employment. Work provides more than income; it provides purpose and community.