Country proposes $2,800 monthly

[Hum]

More than 100,000 residents in Switzerland have signed a petition demanding that the government ensure a minimum monthly income of nearly $2,800 (2,500 Swiss francs) for all adults in the country.

The 120,000 signatures are enough to formally call a vote in the government over whether or not to approve the ?CHF 2,500 monthly for everyone" (Grundeinkommen)? funding proposal.

For comparison, the average U.S. worker earned $3,769 in pre-tax, monthly salary in 2011. Food service industry workers earned $1,785 in pre-tax income during the same period.

MSN reports that in a public display of support, advocates tipped over a truck full of 8 million five-cent coins in front of the Swiss capital on Friday, one coin for each of the country?s citizens.

 A formal date has yet to be set for the vote but it could come as early as this year, pending guidance from Swiss government.

Funding for the proposed measure would come out of the Swiss social insurance system, which already guarantees universal health care coverage for its citizens, along with other benefits designed to uphold the country?s social safety net.

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[BobSlob]

So all this means is the median price for rent, food and other things go up as well. Everyone loses, especially those making 2600 CHF now.

[McKay]

Full speed to Hyper-Inflation!

[Sandor]

Except the Swiss actually know how to run their country.

[Osiris]

The Swiss have very good government programs and safety nets but I cannot see that level of minimum income ever being passed.  A guaranteed minimum income doesn't necessarily mean hyperinflation though if managed correctly over the medium term although all this talk of various figures is irrelevant without drilling down into the purchasing power of each country and working out a relative baseline.

[redfish]

Oh really? What is considered "food workers", because people who work at fast food, and most food places are lucky enough to even make $1k after taxes a month.

 

Not sayin they're victims, if they want to work a non career teenager job, let them, but they don't make almost $2k a month, not even close.

 

The Yahoo news article has a link to the source.

 

 

 

In 2011, food preparation and serving related occupations were the lowest-earning category, earning an average monthly $1,785, which equaled $21,430 per year, or $10.30 per hour. Within this category were fast food cooks who made $1,560 per month, combined food prep and serving workers who made $1,568 monthly and dishwashers who earned $1,570 per month. The lowest monthly averages outside of the food service category belonged to such jobs as shampooers at $1,594, amusement and recreation attendants at $1,663, and farmworkers and laborers at $1,668.

[gameboy1977]

wow Swiss government has good heart for their people.  here in USA, they paid us about $700 monthly, so USA government is very greedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't understand how those apartment are too expensive for disabled people! The apartment rent is too expensive like $450 to $2,500 per month or more. can you tel that USA government is very greedy?

[Hum]

*flying to Switzerland* :D

[McKay]

Isn't it much more expensive over there though? Almost everything in America seems amazingly cheap compared to what we pay across much of Europe. 

[123456789A]

Except the Swiss actually know how to run their country.

 

I would guess that Switzerland also doesn't get overcrowded with uneducated, unproductive people birthing children they can't afford to raise.

[neufuse Veteran]

wow Swiss government has good heart for their people.  here in USA, they paid us about $700 monthly, so USA government is very greedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They don't understand how those apartment are too expensive for disabled people! The apartment rent is too expensive like $450 to $2,500 per month or more. can you tel that USA government is very greedy?

the entire population of the USA is not guaranteed to get any money per month so this is a different subject from being disabled..... and what does rent have to do with the government being greedy? They have low income housing for people also...

[gameboy1977]

apartment cost 600 dollars plus 100 foods, also apartment paid all water, elertic, and gas, and etc. that is not enough for disabled people. maybe SSA would require both hearing or deaf people will check their health up, and if they are good in their health, then they don't need SSA anymore. too many deaf people with good health took advantage of USA goverment's money all the times. I don't support that one. they will be forced to find a good job with their good health.