I agree, a BI is about freedom, freedom to choose how to spend the limited time we have on this planet. Simply exchanging our labour for wages is an out dated and increasingly unrealistic concept. There was never a time of full employment and there never will. Introducing a BI is looking forward while arguing for the status quo is living in a past that is less and less relevant every year.

Science and technology are eliminating the human component from the workplace at an ever escalating rate and there is far more that human beings have to offer each other than as mere workers and consumers. There are far more important and relevant ways for people to occupy their time and to value their lives than simply exchanging labour for wages and money for stuff.

A BI offers people the freedom to spend time raising their children, caring for infirm and/or the dying family members, volunteering and being involved in community endeavours. There would be an explosion of artistic talents and amateur sports, people would have the time and freedom to research and acquire ever more knowledge whenever the desire moves them and, thereby, enhance our collective knowledge base exponentially.

Employers would benefit greatly from a BI as well since they would not have to retain workers when markets are down or be vilified for shutting a business down or moving it to some other community. Employers would have people who actually want the jobs because those workers will want more than a basic existence while those who were taking jobs simply for a paycheck to survive will be directing their efforts o more self-fulfilling and community enriching endeavours. Employers will also be free to offer other incentives to employees other than wages such as homes, condos, cars, etc. But employers will no longer be able to impose unsafe working conditions and unhealthy workplaces on employees.

Granted, there are a great many people who are so tied to the existing structures that they fear or simply dismiss change. But change is inevitable, nothing is static, everything in the universe is in transition, including the universe itself. Yes those who have benefited the most from the existing structures will be the most fervent opponents of a BI, since may of them think their wealth represents their value as human beings while others find their value in their exchange of labour for wages - namely their jobs and careers. But no one is suggesting changing that. There is no reason those premises cannot continue.

At the end of the day a BI is about freedom. The freedom of a person to choose how to spend the time this life offers us. The idea that human beings are not self motivated to improve their lot in life is laughable and not worthy of debate. Those who argue against that concept of freedom are the ones holding back humankind.