How do we Marxpill the "Yang Gang"?
The disillusioned youth of the online counterculture in places like 4/pol/, previous MAGAtards who have become alienated because of DJT's betrayal of his proposed principles and policies, and who suffer under the hell of capitalist neoliberalism are turning to the presidential candidate Andrew Yang, whose main policies are implementing a 1000$ UBI to deal with the impending automation of jobs.
How do we direct their naivety of UBI under capitalism unto class consciousness and an understanding of Marxian theory? Is such an effort futile?
How do we Marxpill the "Yang Gang"?
Isaac Morris
Liam Robinson
I think there is a thread somewhere where the experimental implementation of UBI in Finland is discussed, you could find some argument there i guess…
Brayden Rivera
Zig Forumsyps and general extremely online young guys have a strong tendency towards extremism and embracing polarisation. Our critique of UBI and the Yang platform, or more accurately the hype around it, should not be dismissive criticism or opposition, but rather the most aggressive and thorough support with all criticism being directed at it 'not going far enough', underline its shortcomings and present genuine leftist policies (economic planning, worker ownership and all out class warfare) as the obvious extensions of UBI and naive welfare capitalism.
These people will naturally drift towards the most extreme version of their position and will find it impossible to advocate moderation and 'not going too far', its too easy to be accused of being a shill, so all we need to do is present ourselves as the good-natured critical supporters of Yang, providing a continuum from UBI to DotP
.
Easton Davis
I'll repost again:
According to Marxian econ, Yangbux would just lower the price of labor power. Not by the full $1k if, according to Yang's scheme, a lot of people just have the option to trade some benefits for the $1k. But basically (leaving aside Alaska en.wikipedia.org
1. take $1k from profits a worker generates
2. give it to the worker
3. next cycle, wages + Yangbux = if ( wages - 1k > min_wage) { wages - 1k + 1k } else { min_wage + 1k }
So, pretty nice if you are on, below, or near minimum wage. Pretty irrelevant if you're not. Of course, in reality, workers will not accept a sudden $1k pay deduction. So this effect would more likely take place at a slower pace through lowered hiring salaries, lowered promotion salaries, etc.
Also, of course, it appeals to NEETs. A lot of NEETs aren't actually on any social support system. Just their parents. This scheme would probably be a plain benefit to them, though it would not fix their miserable lives and put them to healthy work like communism would. However, it is basically irrelevant to anyone already receiving $1k or more from social security, food stamps, etc.
INTERESTINGLY, the difference between the federal minimum wage and Bernie's $15 an hour is $7.75. Over a month, this amounts to $1240. Meaning for many workers, a minimum wage increase would be better. Many state min wages are over the federal minimum wage, but are still low (most below $10) making a $15 fed min wage still equal to or better than Yangbux.
I don't know how rent figures into it. I haven't read Ricardo and Capital Vol 3 yet. I don't think landlords could just suddenly raise rent by $1k, not only for market reasons, but also because many or even most tenants will not get a benefit from the $1k.
It would not cause inflation because as Yang points out, it is based on a tax and not printing money. So in spite of how retarded he is, he managed to be less retarded than AOC and co.
Yang's other statements make him come across as a fascist (we need muh strong border to protect our $1k… ignoring the fact that the $1k comes from worker surplus anyway, meaning immigrant workers don't impact it at all), he is a porky, and he's a Zig Forums meme meaning there's something clearly wrong with him.
Nicholas Bailey
More about UBI: the big privatization threat
UBI advocates are saying they can just DISMANTLE WELFARE, healthcare, social security, etc. and just move all the money to UBI. This means PRIVATIZATION of those services. EVEN IF the workers received the full value going to those services in the switch, they would quickly get leached dry by the privatized services that are more expensive due to being less centralized and subject to fewer standards/restrictions (more rent seeking).
Yang says the same thing, but that it's a "choice" to move from the existing support structures to UBI.
Here's the problem: say half of the people on existing social support switch over. That will cripple the social support systems, making more people want to switch, until it's totally privatized. So from a plain value standpoint, the UBI is borderline irrelevant. A $15 min wage would be better for employed workers, but not as nice for unemployed. But from a broader understanding of the state and privatization, UBI is very bad. The only people it looks even slightly good for are failsons.
Matthew Nelson
Yang is the political equivalent of FOTM anime.
Leo Cook
We need to Jehupill them. Redpill them about how inflation is going to cancel all the benefits of UBI after a couple of years and tell them that shortening the workweek would allow everyone to become a part-time NEET, make workers more productive and mentally healthier, reduce pollution and so on.
We shouldn't go on austically about "muh Marx said X", we should just promote a four day working week because "Communism is free time and nothing else" (but they don't need to know that right now).
Btw, fuck the workerist """left""".
ufblog.net
therealmovement.wordpress.com
Hunter Foster
Come again?
Leo Scott
No point in trying to look for actual arguments in this nonsense, tbqh.
William Evans
Based and Wobbly pilled