Ireland is making basic income for artists program permanent

Scope of the Scheme vs “Real” UBI

• Many commenters stress this is not UBI but a targeted fellowship/subsidy for ~2,000 artists.
• Confusion and frustration that politicians and media frame it as “basic income” when it’s conditional, competitive and small-scale.
• Some see it as a baby step toward broader UBI; others say piecemeal schemes distort incentives without delivering universal security.

Economics, Funding, and Taxation

• Back-of-envelope math: extending €1,500/month to the whole Irish population would roughly match or exceed current state revenues, implying major tax rises or cuts elsewhere.
• Debate over whether UBI is even arithmetically possible at a livable level without gutting other services (healthcare, education, pensions) or heavily taxing middle earners.
• Some argue administrative savings from scrapping means‑tested welfare would be meaningful but far short of “paying for” UBI.
• Strong disagreement over whether higher taxes are acceptable given perceptions of government waste.

Housing, Rents, and Ireland‑Specific Constraints

• Multiple comments argue any cash transfer in Ireland risks flowing straight to landlords given extreme housing scarcity.
• Discussion of restrictive planning, near‑bans on rural building without “local needs,” low property taxes, and financial rules that favor housing as an investment.
• Counter‑argument: the core problem is under‑supply; build far more homes and even investor‑owned stock will be forced to lower rents.

Fairness, Eligibility, and “Who Is an Artist?”

• Strong skepticism of selection: only a small minority of “artists” get support, criteria are complex, and the bureaucracy is seen as gatekeeping an already elitist art world.
• Edge cases (Twitch streamers, FOSS maintainers, jewelry designers) highlight how arbitrary boundaries between “art” and other creative work feel.
• Some propose market-linked alternatives (e.g., subsidies on small art purchases), but others warn of easy fraud and heavy oversight.

Cultural Value vs Elitism and Propaganda

• Supporters: states have always subsidized culture; Ireland’s artistic output is globally significant and worth nurturing, especially in low‑income fields like literature and music.
• Critics: this is “left‑wing elitism,” taxing teachers, nurses, and service workers to fund niche or self‑indulgent projects chosen by cultural bureaucrats.
• Concern that state‑funded art easily drifts toward soft propaganda and reinforces insider networks.

Welfare Design, Universality, and Bureaucracy

• Fans of UBI emphasize the appeal of no means‑testing: simpler administration, no welfare cliffs, and less humiliation or complexity for recipients.
• Many note real-world systems (Medicaid, child benefits, disability) are byzantine; eligible people often fail to access support.
• Others counter that some eligibility checks are unavoidable to prevent identity fraud and to connect vulnerable people with non‑financial support.

Work Incentives, Moral Hazard, and Long‑Term Risk

• Persistent worry that guaranteed income—whether for artists or universally—will reduce labor supply, leave “nasty” jobs unfilled, and expand an unsustainable dependent class.
• Others reply that many already idle in “bullshit jobs” or unemployment; the real issue is lack of good options and precarity, not laziness.
• Comparisons to pensions and disability: once a society promises lifelong income, rolling it back later is politically and morally fraught.