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I recently heard the term 'unconditional basic income' for the first time. It is not a new concept and has been around since the late 18th century. The fact that I have never heard of it says something about my upbringing and education. Mostly, I think it says something about the poverty of my country where the mere concept sounds far-fetched, like something the starship Enterprise will discover on a planet in a galaxy far, far away.

Much of my daily task is devoted to helping children caught in a poverty so pervasive that it will keep them captive in its poisonous claws for many generations. I'm convinced that education is the cure. However, education is a slow process and we have a very broken education system in South Africa. This cure will take time. So much time that the children I serve today and their children will not see the impact or be any better off.

What is 'Basic Income'?

A basic income is typically described as a new kind of welfare program in which all citizens (or permanent residents) of a country receive a regular, liveable and unconditional sum of money, from the government.

This is enough to enable a person to live close or on the poverty line and there is no requirement or condition. It will not create an equal society but is promoted by its adherents for two major reasons (as far as I can see).

1. Eradicate poverty

Imagine a country where no one goes to bed hungry unless on a diet. Poverty is not the lack of a new television or the neighbourhood your house is situated in. Poverty is a daily struggle for survival without any means. Proponents of 'Universal Basic Income' (UBI) hold up a picture where everyone has food, a roof and a blanket.

2. Answer to automation

More and more people predict a takeover of the majority of jobs by robots in the not too distant future. Not quite like in 'Universal Soldier' but close. It will be a unique skill set that will make you employable in this new world and higher education is not your only safeguard. However, it is all but guaranteed that all menial jobs will be done by robots. Multitudes previously employed will suddenly be unemployable and dependant on the state. UBI will be a good response to this.

There are other more philosophical and more radical reasons for people to support the concept. I do not want to taint this conversation with ideas that will never be adopted by the majority of people.

My opinion

This could be a very long debate. Since I'm new to this concept I'll most likely end up drawing parallels to things I do know, like communism, the New Testament church or the pros and cons of different welfare systems. Let's keep it short. The bottom line is that I do not think it is possible. There is no economy in the world where the political will or the economic power exists or can be sustained if it was found. It is just not do-able!

Enter cryptocurrency

We all know that cryptocurrency has been a game-changer. It could be an even greater game-changer than it has already been. You and I do not know where it all will end. If you are on Steemit you have some faith in cryptocurrencies and know that however it all turns out, it is not going away.
The mere existence of cryptocurrencies challenges the status quo of our economic well-being. Many things have and will change. How many and when is too big a question for me and the surer you are of your answers to those questions the less I trust you.

But what if one of the changes cryptocurrencies bring about is in the area of a universal basic income? Imagine that!

Enter Manna

Manna is distributed by the People’s Currency Foundation as a basic human right that every person in the world is eligible to receive, for free. Founded in 2015, Manna has achieved milestones in the cryptocurrency movement, as the first blockchain-based currency to be created and distributed by a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, and the first digital currency to implement a Universal Basic Income as its primary method of distribution.

The vision of Mannabase is to empower the people of the world by making cryptocurrency accessible and available to everyone, and to provide a tool for effective altruism to reduce poverty and inequality.

I am spectacular in my inability to evaluate the potential of this currency. However, I have signed up and I am receiving Manna once a week. I am the proud owner of 58.113983 Manna. It is worth very little but I have done nothing for it. Next week I will have more. And the week after ... And then:

Mannabase will also be developing a system for targeted direct giving, enabling users to donate Manna currency to specific groups of people based on criteria such as geography, age, sex, and economic condition. Mannabase users will also be able to give Manna to charities through the platform.

Sign up today. The next time I tell you about Africa Food for Thought you may be able to do something about it! Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

Use this referral code and you will benefit my account.

https://www.mannabase.com/?ref=731812d2e9

Did you know about Manna already? What are your impressions?

@reonlouw