Columnist uninformed on basic incomes

A Los Angeles Times column reprinted last month in the Herald-Leader criticized Stockton, California Mayor Michael Tubbs’ effort to reduce poverty and counteract the loss of good-paying jobs as a result of automation and artificial intelligence.

Just giving $500 a month to poor but working families is not enough to help, according to the writer. The city should “build a boat” for them instead of “just keeping them afloat.” Where the money for this gigantic task would come from was not mentioned.

The writer didn’t agree that blue-collar jobs are disappearing and thought that “the one percent’s eternal quest for profits and wealth endanger society.” How this happens, he did not say.

The mayor has the support of extensive research for his plans, detailed in a book by Chris Hughes, Fair Shot: Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn. The critic has no basis for his superficial misinformation.