Comedian Steve Martin, in his white-suited, “wild and crazy guy” stand-up years, had a routine that seemed never to get old.
“You … can be a millionaire … and never pay taxes!,” he said, channeling his best television pitchman. “You can be a millionaire … and never pay taxes! You say … ‘Steve … how can I be a millionaire … and never pay taxes?’ First … get a million dollars.”
The routine went on about paying taxes on the money, but Facebook founder and Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg evidently stopped after the first part – after watching it on YouTube, since he’s younger than the routine – and worked the concept into the commencement speech he gave at Harvard University last month.
“We should have a society that measures progress not just by economic metrics like GDP (gross domestic product),” he said, “but by how many of us have a role we find meaningful. We should explore ideas like universal basic income to give everyone a cushion to try new things.”
With universal basic income, the government would just issue everyone a check or deposit into their bank account a fixed amount of money. Warren Buffett would get one, and the minimum wage employee at the drive-through would get one.