We have a lot planned and a lot to look forward to. Thank you for being along for the ride.

Can't wait for the best part of the whole post-production process: you watching the full docuseries! 💛🎥

If you were our agent, which streaming platform would you pitch the Bootstraps docuseries to?

Check out our latest post on finding a distributor for a docuseries about how participants of a UBI experiment transformed their lives: www.bootstrapstv.com/p/3-simplifi...

We have a great story to share with you, but we also need to figure out where the show is going to live. This month, we’ll start pitching Bootstraps to streaming networks and distributors to find the show a home.

In one of the largest & longest-running UBI trials in the world, GiveDirectly has given millions of dollars (no strings attached) to ~23,000 people across 195 African villages since 2017. Listen to the participant stories here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpHfkpa08Lo

“Basic income is the most effective core policy to save the people, save the country, and save the market economy in a future society where jobs are disappearing and polarization is severe.” -Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea

How can we learn to trust that people are inherently good?

Believe it or not, a country has already launched the world’s first national universal basic income program: the Marshall Islands. Through direct deposit, check, or Stablecoin (cryptocurrency), all resident citizens of the Marshall Islands will receive $200 per quarter.

In 2018, then-Governor Lee Jae Myung led a youth basic income program in the Gyeonggi Province that provided 1 million won (about $663) annually in local currency to 175,000 24-year-olds. As a result, small- and medium-size businesses in the area had a surge in sales.

How do you acknowledge that most people operate from a place of good intentions?

What would you do, along with your trusted neighbors and friends, if you had universal basic income as a financial foundation to build on?

While being “too trusting” can leave people vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation, trust in others is essential for our society and economy to function. So, how do we rebuild trust in each other?

In Europe’s first government-backed basic income trial, Finland paid 2,000 unemployed citizens a monthly income of €560 (~$634; £490) from Jan 2017-Dec 2018. Findings showed no radical change in employment rates but showed a boost in mental well-being & life satisfaction.

While being “too trusting” can leave people vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation, trust in others is essential for our society and economy to function. So, how do we rebuild trust in each other? Read more at bootstrapstv.com 💛 Photo: Matt Collamer (Unsplash)

If you were in charge of developing a universal basic income policy, how much would the monthly payment to each person be?

Online discussions about UBI are full of people doubting others’ ability to spend the money “correctly.” But flip the question around and ask them about themselves, and suddenly they trust their own intentions completely. It’s a curious self-versus-others paradox.

"Some said the basic income allowed them to go back to the life they had before they became unemployed, while others said it gave them the power to say no to low-paid insecure jobs, and thus increased their sense of autonomy." - Professor Blomberg-Kroll on Finland's 2017-2018 UBI trial

Personal curriculums are self-directed learning journeys that celebrate intellectual curiosity outside of formal education. Here are some recommendations of interactive online tools for your personal curriculum on basic income! What other websites should we add to this list? 💛

What passion project would universal basic income inspire you to start?

With AI and other tech advancements redefining the job market, will this lead to the rise of UBI?

What is possible when we trust other's capabilities to invest in themselves and their communities?

UBI sparks a lot of debate, but we want to know what you think first. Behind every statistic and economic concept is a real person hoping for a little ease and a little more breathing room. What would you gain? What would you reclaim?

A growing number of people believe that basic income could be a viable strategy for addressing poverty, social mobility, economic inequality, labor market instability, etc. But, it also has plenty of detractors from all walks of life and political leanings. Where are you at?

What would a basic income mean for the artists in your life?

POV: You’ve been given the opportunity to have a basic income of $1000 each month for the rest of your life. No strings attached. Spend it how you’d like. After all your bills and debts are covered, what else would you do?

Alright, Bluesky, connect us with people who are curious about universal basic income and love watching docuseries 💛

What would you do if you had the opportunity to be in a basic income experiment? What if it weren’t a lucky break for a few, but a government policy for all?

"It is a cruel jest to say to a bootless man that he ought to lift himself by his own bootstraps... Now one of the answers it seems to me, is a guaranteed annual income, a guaranteed minimum income for all people, and for our families of our country." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Common hopes for UBI: - Enables pursuit of passions - Increases resilience to challenges - Redistribution of wealth Common concerns about UBI: - Cost of implementation - Removes incentive to work - Redistribution of wealth What do you think?

We’re on a journey to explore the heart of UBI. Our docuseries follows 11 U.S. households participating in a groundbreaking basic income experiment, redefining what it means to build a better future on their own terms. Visit bootstrapstv.com to follow their stories 💛

If you had the freedom to be independent of and unbeholden to any other person or employer for a source of life-sustaining income, the freedom from fear of homelessness and hunger, what would you dare to pursue?

Does everyone "deserve" money as a birthright?

Launched in 2022 by Mayor Brandon Scott, the Baltimore Young Families Success Fund (BYFSF) provided 130 young parents with $1,000 monthly payments for two years. Participants reported better finances, increased educational interest, lower stress, and more stable homes.

Similar to the phrase of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps,” the myth of the starving artist is a cultural narrative that romanticizes financial struggle as a rite of passage towards success. To achieve success, all you need is personal grit and to try a little harder…

The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), established in 1976 to convert a non-renewable resource into a renewable financial resource, provides a universal annual payout to every state resident. These payments have fluctuated, ranging from $331 (1984) to $3,269 (2008).

The UBI Calculator is as simple to use as it is to share. These estimates are a powerful way for you to start exploring the possibilities of universal basic income. Check it out: www.ubicalculator.com

For part 1, we focused on four examples of basic income trials in the U.S. For part 2, we’ll cover four international examples of basic income trails in Kenya, Finland, South Korea, and the Marshall Islands. 💛💛💛 Read our latest post bootstrapstv.com (link in bio)

Would you pursue art as a career if you had a basic income? If so, what type of art?

The Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration (SEED), the U.S.'s first mayor-led guaranteed income trial, gave 125 low-income residents $500 monthly for two years, with no strings attached. Participants reported steadier incomes, better job prospects, and improved well-being.

"Devoting yourself to the life of a 'starving artist' is a lot less risky if your family has enough money to make sure you don't actually starve." - Kristen Bahler (Money) Read more on bootstrapstv.com (link in bio)

Video #7 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 The Case for Universal Basic Income in Post-Pandemic Canada (Global News) ⏰ 7 min 56 sec 🪙 For anyone wondering how UBI works in our post-pandemic world, particularly in Canada https://youtu.be/Xn98377z7S4

Video #6 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 Why the U.S. Should Provide Universal Basic Income (The Atlantic) ⏰ 3 min 20 sec 🪙 For anyone wondering if the concept of UBI could even work in the United States https://youtu.be/RnWsPIgl8_s

Video #5 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 Poverty isn’t a lack of character; it’s a lack of cash | Rutger Bregman (TED) ⏰ 14 min 58 sec 🪙 For anyone who loves a TED talk https://youtu.be/ydKcaIE6O1k

Video #4 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 The case for a universal basic income | Free Lunch on Film (Financial Times) ⏰ 19 min 44 sec 🪙 A great watch overall. Best part was the inclusion of interviews from Alaska Dividend recipients. https://youtu.be/1U1D7nmcnZ0

Video #3 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 Basic Income, explained (Vox) ⏰ 2 min 17 sec 🪙 For anyone saying, “I don’t have time to watch these videos.” You can watch this video while you wait for your food to heat up. https://youtu.be/c9xVWOfXW7U

Video #2 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 The Monsters, Inc. Argument for Basic Income (UBIVisuals) ⏰ 11 min 23 sec 🪙 If you love Monsters, Inc. or cultural analysis on the movies we watch, this is for you. https://youtu.be/fTZ2A_GknZM

Video #1 to add to your lunchtime YouTube watch list: 💻 Universal Basic Income Explained (Kurzgesagt - In a Nutshell) ⏰ 10 min 5 sec 🪙 Concise and easy to understand. Quick watch packed with information. And who doesn’t love fun animations? https://youtu.be/kl39KHS07Xc

Should your job become a big part of your identity?

Why do you think wealthy people still worry about money?