Techno-feudalists hate UBI
In a Nutshell
The "tech right" (e.g., Marc Andreessen, Gil Verdon) opposes UBI, arguing it flattens incentives for innovation, creates state dependence, and that technology will always generate new jobs amid maximum automation. Rebuttals highlight that top innovators like Gates, Jobs, and Musk thrived with financial security, UBI ($1-2k/month) preserves work incentives without replacing high rewards, and it boosts demand in a constrained economy to fuel energy use and Kardashev scale ascent. Alternatives like Verdon's "universal basic tokens" resemble UBI, while critiques frame tech right views as enabling techno-feudalism that traps people in wage slavery.
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Hey everybody. Today, talking about the tech right. They are very against UBI and believe technology will always create new jobs. First, define tech right. Then steelman their arguments in good faith. Then offer rebuttals.
By tech right, Silicon Valley types: VCs or founders, generally pro-MAGA, pro-Trump, pro-military-industrial complex. Fans of Palantir and Anduril. Famous ones: Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz, Beth Jajos aka Gil Verdon. Decent humans, interacted a few times. Same goals: peace and prosperity. Can disagree on how to get there.
Gil Verdon's arguments:
- UBI flattens incentive gradients (no motivation to aim big).
- Goal: maximum entropy generation (create most useful information, be creative, invent things).
- Ascend the Kardashev scale. UBI and job elimination prevent these.
Marc Andreessen's classical conservative view:
- Work is good; humans need work.
- UBI creates dependence on the state, which is bad.
Both believe technology only creates new jobs. Tacit admission: if they truly believed it, no need to argue it. They are pro-maximum automation, automate everything regardless of consequences. Agree on automation for abundance.
Gil's arguments fall flat:
Maximize entropy generation (useful novel information): Best entropy generators like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk had financial security, came from wealthy families. J. Robert Oppenheimer from wealthy family. Charles Darwin chronically ill, afforded to stay in bed for weeks because gentry with stable income, worked decades on theory of evolution. To maximize entropy, avoid lost Einsteins phenomenon; universal financial security helps.
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