Forward to Basics

Abstract

Those who are at the periphery of a debate are sometimes able to see farther than those who are at the centre. The loss of influence and status that they experience may be compensated for by the vision and the foresight which a position at the margins can provide. Occasionally, this is recognised by those at the centre. The history of social policy offers examples of individuals and groups who found themselves nominated to lead a crowd from which they had previously been excluded. Equally, there are many whose voices were drowned out as the crowd swept them away on a course which would lead to the social environment which surrounds us today. Consequently, the debate concerning the reform proposal known as Basic Income (BI) is fascinating for two reasons: first, because its supporters claim to possess the vision and foresight which is denied to others; second, because BI may one day ‘lead the crowd’ which currently tends either to marginalize it or to ignore it altogether. The purpose of this book is to provide an introduction to that debate.