Comment by alkonaut

Universal income is so complex and transformational that we have to assume that before it can be implemented in scale in the US, the prerequisites such as a welfare state with single payer healthcare will seem as a minor obstacle along the road. I guess what I'm saying is that "those forces" will have to change first, and that's the small problem. UBI is already a realistic possibility in some places but I think it's a few decades out (at least) in the US.

The places that can make realistic attempts to implement it now are those with large cradle-to-grave welfare systems and and an economic outlook that requires stimulus, which is why Finland is such an interesting example.