This income will be included in the income tax base, so that everyone will receive a basic income floor, but the cost of providing it to those who do not need it will be recovered through the progressive income tax. Universal Social Security will combine entitlement universalism with tax universalism, thus avoiding the political isolation of means-tested programs and the fiscal irresponsibility of entitlement universalism regardless of need. Universal Social Security will replace the existing Social Security system and the stingy, punitive, and intrusive welfare program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. This would bring families to above a realistic poverty line. The Greens call for jobs for all through public works and a shorter work week.
Private jobs are good, but public jobs are necessary for full employment.
A job should lift a worker's family above the poverty line. The burden of paying the hours not worked will not fall on particular enterprises, but on society as a whole through progressive taxes on income and wealth. The Social Dividend represents each worker's share of social productivity gains. Workers would be paid the Social Dividend at their current wage rate, up to the 80th percentile on the pay scale. Workers should start getting their fair share of increased labor productivity as a Social Dividend.