This article is part 1 of 2 regarding basic income, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized communities.
Basic Income Gaining Traction
Basic income is a worldwide popular topic. Partly it has to do with recent political developments such as the world’s first national-level experiment in Finland 2017-2019 and proposals made during the US presidential elections in 2020. There are also new local basic income experiments being made as in Stockton in the US state of California and private-based initiatives as via ‘Give Directly’ assisting humans in need as in Kenya.
In Crypto Communities
There have been several discussions about basic income within the SEEDS community including the rewards system and citizen’s contribution scores. Besides SEEDS there are several other cryptocurrency communities such as Mana and Circles dealing with similar ideas. SEEDS and other communities demonstrate examples of how a decentralised basic income system could be developed outside the eventual public and government ones.
What is Basic Income?
But to start, what is basic income? Historically seen, basic income is an old idea originally promoted during the 18th century by thinkers like Thomas Paine. There are also several ideas about basic income regarding funding, payments, and ambitions.
These ideas differ when it comes to politics and ideology. For example, many libertarians and free-market conservatives admire the idea of a basic income guarantee, also known as negative income tax, where a monthly basic income would be paid out to individuals who are without jobs and/or enough income. While many greens and progressives favour the idea of a general basic income, also known as universal basic income (UBI) where a monthly basic income will be paid to “everyone” in a society, such as to all citizens and residents.
Similarities Among UBI Proposals
Despite these political differences, there are several similarities when it comes to basic income in general. These similarities are:
- Monthly payments (or on annual basis)
- In cash and money (so no food stamps etc)
- Lump-sum (as 1000 US dollars per month)
- To individual (as a citizen, or resident)
- Unconditional in principle (no strings attached)
In general, the idea is that an individual receives a monthly payment as in cash that the individual can decide how to spend without government officials like social workers controlling the payments. Most proposals for a public basic income system are based on the principle that the sum should be enough to cover the individual’s basic needs like food, housing, and transportation. Depending on the proposal, the individual should be able to earn more income and work while receiving an income for basic needs.
Not If, But When
At the moment, basic income is a popular topic in public debates in Europe, Africa, and America. One can say that the question is not if but when a “real” basic income system is going to be implemented somewhere in the world. In the next article, you can read more about initial basic income discussions within SEEDS.
Deeper Exploration
The discussion within SEEDS starting with the article written by one of SEEDS founders Rieki Cordon in March 2020, his point is that “If we want a UBI, we’ll need to make one ourselves” Cordon is negative towards a government-based basic income. According to Cordon, a government UBI could make things worse by making humans dependant on government assistance while centralized and arbitrary governments still maintain the current capitalist system that is seen as unsustainable and bad for the climate. Thereby Cordon argues that creating a basic income system within SEEDS is also about the creation of a new economic, social and ecological system where a Seeds-based basic income will reward regenerative civilisational development.
Universal Earned Income
The earliest proposal made within SEEDS is the Universal Earned Income based on rewards and citizens’ contribution scores. This system is already partly in place via the “harvest” function when individual citizens plant Seeds. This is also vital in order to reward members who invite others and help new members understand SEEDS with all different functions.
SEEDS and a UBI vs UEI System
Within SEEDS, as during community calls in 2020, there have been several discussions about how a basic income in SEEDS could look like. One of the more active and initial members Nila Phi even participated in a conversation about basic income and cryptocurrencies organized by the Unconditional Basic Income Europe (UBIE) network. Nila’s participation was co-hosted by Vladan Lausev, a member of UBIE, and has promoted crypto-based basic income within the network.
Gratitude
Another example of a similar practice is the current gratitude token system, which functions as a decentralized and digital gift economy. Meaning that gifts and rewards can be provided through community coordinated procedures by initiatives of members who want to reward other members for a deed or performance. For example, members can reward others for organising a call, writing a text, or cultivating vegetables.
No Real UBI or UEI Yet
One thing to keep in mind is that a “real” community and crypto-based basic income system is still non-existing within SEEDS, partly due to the current under construction phase. Therefore, things will change as SEEDS is entering “Go Live” phase, meaning that a more developed basic income system could be co-created. The next article will focus on the latest proposal for a SEEDS basic income.
