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Direct cash transfers 'could halve child poverty' in Oregon [1]

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Date: 2025-01

BTS: So you want everyone to receive the UBI money, not just needy families?

Antonio: When we say everybody in Oregon, we really mean everybody. Our values centre on human dignity. We're all equally deserving of good things in society because we're all equal members of society, regardless of whatever status or condition society might put on us.

A mother in our group spoke eloquently about how she had raised her son in poverty in Alaska, and how the $1,200 a year she had received there had made a huge difference in their lives. She and her son brought our group to a consensus on this. If it works in Alaska, why couldn't it work in Oregon or anywhere else?

BTS: How would the taxes, revenue, and proposed distribution of UBI work exactly?

Antonio: We propose a 3% tax increase for any company with revenues in Oregon over $25 million. Every person in Oregon would get an equal share of that: every adult, every child, every dependent. It doesn't matter whether you file taxes or don't file taxes. It doesn't matter whether you are housed or unhoused. It doesn't matter whether you are in custody or not. It doesn't matter whether you're documented or not. Everybody in Oregon would get the rebate.

BTS: What’s some of the pushback you've faced?

Antonio: In the United States, there's a very strong, anti-tax narrative that comes from the political right. We’ve also faced opposition from the centre or left-of-centre crowd, which is surprising because they claim to care about economic development and reducing poverty.

There’s a deeply entrenched scarcity mindset across the political spectrum. Most people aren’t even conscious of it, but this belief that there’s not enough to go around is very strong. Yet we have giant corporations that have amassed so much wealth they can’t even spend all of it. They have an unimaginable amount of money. What we’re asking for is small in comparison.

BTS: Were you surprised by the opposition from the political left?

Antonio: Yes and no. In the US we're not taxing corporations regardless of the political party that’s in control, so maybe it's not such a big surprise after all.

BTS: How do you counter that opposition? How do you explain the plan to people who are generally anti-taxation, or who believe there isn’t enough to go around?

Antonio: Data shows that if everyone in Oregon received a direct cash transfer of around $1,600, that would reduce child poverty by about half. That's a big difference. Reducing child poverty is not only the right thing to do, but it's also good for society. Children who are better off do better in school and in their lives. Those children are going to grow up to be happier, healthier, and will be able to better care for society in return. It’s an investment in the future.

BTS: The Oregon Rebate is on the ballot this November. How hopeful are you that it will pass?

Antonio: We’re realistic and staying hopeful regardless of the outcome. It’s a long-term project. Every election, every campaign is an opportunity for more conversations about economic disparity and how to build a healthier and more equitable society. Obviously I’d love it if everybody was immediately in favour of the proposal. But if they’re not we won’t be deterred.

BTS: We’ve talked about the opposition to the proposal. Who have been your biggest allies?

Antonio: The strongest allies have been the people. We are people-centred and believe in people. Regular people wrote the proposed law. Regular people collected the signatures to qualify this proposal for the ballot. Regular people signed those petitions. Regular people are going to be the ones who vote yes or no in November. And regular people will be the ones who will receive the rebates and decide how they’ll spend their money.

It's totally up to them. And so most of the support has come from people who know they could use the money for their families by taxing corporations a little more. People immediately say yes to that. That just feels good to folks immediately.

BTS: What do you think has been the most effective messaging for your UBI campaign?

Antonio: We simply ask them, “Could you use $750?” Immediately, everyone – even the wealthiest people – say of course they could. It’s obvious. Everyone has some use for a little extra money.

BTS: I was really impressed with your definition of universality. You said that anyone who has lived for 200 days in the land is eligible. Where did this inspiration come from? How did you conceptualise it?

Antonio: We had to come up with a definition for inclusion that was maximally inclusive, but operable. This was important because in society, implicitly or explicitly, we exclude vast numbers of people.

An obvious example of this are adults in custody. They have many rights taken away from them even before they go to trial, and as long as they are held they are excluded from society. We wanted to make sure they and other marginalised groups in Oregon also received the rebate.

So we had to write in protections specifically for such communities, to ensure they have the same rights that I have. The same goes for undocumented Oregonians. These folks are our friends and neighbours, but our society routinely excludes them. We felt obligated to make sure those folks are also represented in the initiative’s language, so that they are protected and explicitly included.

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[1] Url: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-trafficking-and-slavery/direct-cash-transfers-could-halve-child-poverty-in-oregon-ubi-us-tax-rebate/

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