On Wednesday, CBS This Morning co-host and resident socialism advocate Tony Dokoupil confessed he was “very excited” about the government doling out a “guaranteed basic income” to people. He touted a small experiment with it in a California town and happily declared the radical policy to be a success.
“I’m very excited to talk about what would happen if you gave people $500 a month with no strings attached,” Dokoupil eagerly told viewers at the top of the 8:30 a.m. ET half hour. He explained the favorite left-wing agenda item: “It’s an idea known as the guaranteed basic income.”
The anchor then dismissed obvious concerns with the government just handing out money by citing an incredibly small study in one community that could in no way be extrapolated to the entire nation:
And you might assume, hey, that’s free money, people are going to waste it, they’re going to work less, they’re going to be lazy. But Stockton, California has actually tested this idea. Since 2019, 125 residents there have been getting $500 per month on a special debit card, and here are the results – out just this morning. People did not waste the money. In fact, they used it for necessities. Less than 1% went to alcohol or tobacco.
Dokoupil continued to gush over the questionable use of taxpayer money: “Full employment increased by 12% points, and unemployment fell by 4% points. And you may not be surprised to learn people were less anxious, less depressed, and less fatigued overall.” He hoped the example would “radically change the way we think of social assistance.”
Fellow co-host Gayle King chimed in: “I’m a little surprised.” Dokoupil hailed: “Yeah, I think it’s really amazing.” Co-host Anthony Mason marveled:
This is an idea that has been on the table in the business community for a long time. And obviously it came up in the last election, and it’s been tested. I think people want to see it tested on a broader scale, but it’s really interesting what you’re seeing here.
King added: “Like that.”
In early 2020, Dokoupil went to a shopping mall and tried to sell socialism and wealth redistribution with pies to unsuspecting shoppers. A stunt that later received praise from far-left Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren.
The media never seem to find a radical left-wing idea they don’t like.
Dokoupil’s push for a massive new government entitlement program was brought to viewers by WeatherTech and Value City Furniture. You can fight back by letting these advertisers know what you think of them sponsoring such content.
Here is a full transcript of the March 3 segment:
8:30 AM ET
TONY DOKOUPIL: I’m very excited to talk about what would happen if you gave people $500 a month with no strings attached. It’s an idea known as the guaranteed basic income. And you might assume, hey, that’s free money, people are going to waste it, they’re going to work less, they’re going to be lazy. But Stockton, California has actually tested this idea. Since 2019, 125 residents there have been getting $500 per month on a special debit card, and here are the results – out just this morning.
People did not waste the money. In fact, they used it for necessities. Less than 1% went to alcohol or tobacco. Number two, people actually worked more when they were getting this money. Full employment increased by 12% points, and unemployment fell by 4% points. And you may not be surprised to learn people were less anxious, less depressed, and less fatigued overall. This has the potential to radically change the way we think of social assistance.
GAYLE KING: Yeah, I’m a little surprised.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Yeah, I think it’s really amazing.
ANTHONY MASON: I think it surprises a lot of people. This is an idea that has been on the table in the business community for a long time. And obviously it came up in the last election, and it’s been tested. I think people want to see it tested on a broader scale, but it’s really interesting what you’re seeing here.
DOKOUPIL: Yeah.
KING: Like that.
