I know that dilemma well! I think it comes down to a both/and approach. On the one hand, we want to see social assistance (and other income assistance programs) replaced with the more transparent, more dignified, more secure GAI. On the other, we'll take any changes that improve social assistance and income security programs if we can get them.
But I also think it helps to put GAI in the larger context of poverty elimination. We know that a GAI won't achieve poverty elimination by itself, because there are other variables involved - like the cost of housing, cost of raising a family, health issues, and what we might call capabilities issues (using the Amartya Sen model). So we still need a variety of social programs and a certain social infrastructure in order for all people to be able to live with dignity in strong families and strong communities. So any positive change in social architecture can be viewed as a step toward that - even if down the road we'd like to see the program replaced entirely with a GAI.
Also, without responding to John Stapleton specifically, I think the most successful example we have of drastically reducing poverty has been seniors poverty, where OAS/GIS have been instrumental. OAS/GIS are basically a GAI targeted to seniors. So couldn't we expect the same great results if we extended the target demographic to working age adults?
Hi Robbie,
I know that dilemma well! I think it comes down to a both/and approach. On the one hand, we want to see social assistance (and other income assistance programs) replaced with the more transparent, more dignified, more secure GAI. On the other, we'll take any changes that improve social assistance and income security programs if we can get them.
But I also think it helps to put GAI in the larger context of poverty elimination. We know that a GAI won't achieve poverty elimination by itself, because there are other variables involved - like the cost of housing, cost of raising a family, health issues, and what we might call capabilities issues (using the Amartya Sen model). So we still need a variety of social programs and a certain social infrastructure in order for all people to be able to live with dignity in strong families and strong communities. So any positive change in social architecture can be viewed as a step toward that - even if down the road we'd like to see the program replaced entirely with a GAI.
Also, without responding to John Stapleton specifically, I think the most successful example we have of drastically reducing poverty has been seniors poverty, where OAS/GIS have been instrumental. OAS/GIS are basically a GAI targeted to seniors. So couldn't we expect the same great results if we extended the target demographic to working age adults?