Citizen Power, by Mike Gravel: on Welfare & Poverty

Citizens Wage: $5000 income from feds to banish poverty

The basic Citizen's Wage would be $5,000 a year for a family of four, [with a sliding scale formula so that] anyone earning more than $10,000 would no longer receive the Citizen's Wage [Note: in 2007 dollars, the Citizen's Wage would be about $20,000 a year, phasing out at an income level of about $40,000 -- ed.].

The intent of this plan is simple: to banish poverty and financial insecurity. One could say that this plan comes down to a form of guaranteed income.

Presently we are spending $50 billion per year on welfare and Social Security programs which are totally inadequate. The Citizen's Wage would cost only an additional $15 billion.

Workfare is morally repugnant; why not "wealthwork"?

I am trying to point out the dual standard which applies to the poor. We can compel the poor mothers to work because the government supports them. On the other hand, we don't seem to care about the fellow who no longer has to work because he has cleaned up on subsidies or other government largesse.

The whole idea of forcing welfare mothers to work is morally and philosophically repugnant. It's a chain-gang tactic, illustrating how we keep the poor prisoners of poverty.