Well, here we go again.
I was introduced to the idea of UBI—or Universal Basic Income, or GBI as this latest report calls it—a number of years ago by excited socialists who were all in favour of it. They regaled me with the thought of people in dead-end, low-paying jobs being able to spread their wings and do more meaningful activities that gave them a sense of meaning and belonging in the world. You know, things like learning how to play an instrument, or learning how to paint, or write poetry (I wish I were kidding). It seemed to me at the time that there were a number of practical issues that weren’t being considered, the least of which was the complete unfairness of it all. But I digress.
A new report (https://www.pbo-dpb.ca/en/publications/RP-2425-029-S–distributional-analysis-national-guaranteed-basic-income-update–analyse-distributive-un-revenu-base-garanti-echelle-nationale-mise-jour) has come out from Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer, and with all the uncertainty going on politically in Canada, there seems to be a serious push to get this going. The alleged benefits of such a program are that it would supposedly lift folks out of poverty—think low-income households getting a cash boost—while giving everyone a guaranteed income that tapers off as you earn more. They’re saying it could redistribute wealth across the board, offering a safety net so people can chase their dreams without starving. Sounds rosy, right?
However, there are some significant red flags that need to be considered. For one, the cost is astronomical—back in 2021, the PBO pegged a similar scheme at $85-90 billion a year, and with inflation, that number’s likely ballooned past $100 billion now. Where’s that money coming from? Higher taxes or slashed programs, probably. Then there’s the work disincentive—why grind at a job if you’re losing half your GBI for every dollar you earn? And don’t get me started on the data: it’s based on a tiny Ontario pilot that barely got off the ground before it was axed in 2018. Plus, it might favour city-dwellers over rural folks, and good luck getting political buy-in when everyone’s already screaming about the budget.
What I notice hasn’t been discussed, even by those opposed to such a program, is the argument from first principles. I hear things like “We can’t afford this program.” And fair enough, I don’t think we can either. But so what? What if we could afford it, then what? Would it be okay to implement then? I would emphatically argue that such a program is evil and unjust. Here’s why.
From a biblical perspective, there are at least six moral principles that are broken. First, work is God’s design—Genesis 2:15 says Adam was put in the garden to work it, and 2 Thessalonians 3:10 nails it: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” This GBI junk risks turning slackers into freeloaders. Second, personal responsibility trumps handouts—Galatians 6:5 says we bear our own loads, not lean on the state. Third, stewardship matters—Jesus’ Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 isn’t about taxing the diligent to fund the idle. Fourth, it’s theft—Exodus 20:15, “You shall not steal,” means taking from those who’ve earned to give to those who haven’t is flat-out robbery, no matter how you dress it up as “redistribution.” Fifth, the church, not the government, is tasked with charity—Acts 4 shows believers sharing, not bureaucrats. And sixth, justice demands discernment—Proverbs 13:23 warns against sweeping away the poor’s potential through lazy, one-size-fits-all fixes.
But here’s the kicker: human depravity. Romans 3:23—“all have sinned”—and Jeremiah 17:9—“the heart is deceitful above all things”—remind us that people are rotten to the core. The PBO might estimate a few will abuse this, maybe skimping on work or blowing cash on booze and slots. But that’s naive. The reality? Way more will milk it dry. Sin doesn’t play nice with free money—folks will game the system, lie about income, or just sit on their duffs, and no bureaucrat’s smart enough to stop it. The numbers they’re floating? Laughably low compared to the cesspool of human nature unleashed. Handing out cash like this isn’t just theft from the productive—it’s a blank cheque for the wicked to cash in on.
One of my major issues with conservative thinking today is that it’s not grounded in first principles. It appeals to things like common sense. Does it make any sense to implement a program like this that will bankrupt the nation? No, obviously. But we’re not asking the more important questions. Is this a program that is just? Is this a program that is appropriate? And by what standard?
Our country is quickly becoming bankrupt in more ways than one. We must return to biblical principles before the foolishness of the wisdom of man runs us collectively off a cliff.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 