Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls for exploring universal basic income during his Harvard Commencement Speech
Mark Zuckerberg joins Silicon Valley bigwigs in calling
for government to give everybody free money
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg just wrapped up his Harvard
Commencement speech
Zuckerberg touched on America's economics, health care
system and the need to "modernize democracy"
Zuckerberg also called for universal basic income,
echoing other elite members of Silicon Valley
Todd Haselton May 25, 2017 1 Hour Ago
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called on the need to
consider universal basic income for Americans during his Harvard Commencement
Speech.
Zuckerberg's comments reflect those of other Silicon
Valley bigwigs, including Sam Altman, the president of venture capital firm Y
Combinator.
"Every generation expands its definition of
equality. Now it's time for our generation to define a new social
contract," Zuckerberg said during his speech. "We should have a
society that measures progress not by economic metrics like GDP but by how many
of us have a role we find meaningful. We should explore ideas like universal
basic income to make sure everyone has a cushion to try new ideas."
Zuckerberg said that, because he knew he had a safety net
if projects like Facebook had failed, he was confident enough to continue on
without fear of failing. Others, he said, such as children who need to support
households instead of poking away on computers learning how to code, don't have
the foundation Zuckerberg had. Universal basic income would provide that sort
of cushion, Zuckerberg argued.
Altman's view is similar. A year ago, Altman said he
thinks "everyone should have enough money to meet their basic needs—no
matter what, especially if there are enough resources to make it possible. We
don't yet know how it should look or how to pay for it, but basic income seems
a promising way to do this." Altman believes basic income will be possible
as technological advancements "generate an abundance of resources"
that help decrease the cost of living.
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