Selling the idea of a Minimum Income Guarantee.

I want to live in a country that cares for its poorest people and recognises that we can all experience misfortune at some stage in life, whether through illness, accidents, life changing events, or having been born into poverty.
The MIG would reduce insecurity by giving a safety net.
Caring for children or elderly parents makes it very difficult to go to work. The payment could be used to pay for care from a childminder or nursery, or to top up the parents income. It may only be short term.
The main challenge is getting the MIG to the people who need it. And to stop fraudsters.
The risk is that the country can’t afford it.
In order to be supported, the Government needs to win hearts and minds, so the majority of the population believe it is a good thing, leading to a good society.

Why the contribution is important

It is easy for social media, the main media and opposition leaders to distort the truth about something new. It can be ruined before it has even started. So good information and good, clear publicity is vital. The idea has to be sold to all people in Scotland, starting as soon as possible. However good the scheme is, however well intentioned, it won’t succeed without good advertising and publicity.
The basis of the idea of a MIG is really a philosophical idea, it’s about our values as a country. Discussions and dialogue with all ages would help pave the way to getting the support required.

by judithclare on August 20, 2021 at 03:52PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.0
Based on: 5 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Dober67 August 21, 2021 at 12:41

    This idea is a really good thing to have on the table, but it does need a lot, lot of dialogue with a lot of different people and groups from all walks of life. Yes, unfortunately, every time our Scottish government wants to try to do something that will benefit it’s citizens, you get a lot of ridicule, derision and obstacles put in their way. Scotland has always been a forward thinker in not just inventions, but in caring for the people of Scotland. Yes, they are not perfect, no one is, but this idea, has everything going for it, but yes, a few questions about it. People’s incomes vary by if they are single, couple, family or disabled, and a certain amount may be good for a single person, but a couple may be short of the baseline, and a family would be even more short of the baseline, and more than likely, a disabled person is extremely short of the baseline. So, a one size fits all, just would not work, so it really does need a lot of talking and talking to a broad range of people.

  • Posted by Jane789 September 16, 2021 at 18:12

    At the moment the UK Government are cutting Universal Credit. A Minimum Income Guarantee would help take the mental strain, stress, and anxiety off of people who are going to into bad debts, some of whom will lose their houses because of the cut in Universal Credit.
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