Andrew Yang is one of the runners in the field to gain the Democratic presidential nomination. Sure, he’s at the back of the field, currently on some 3% support, but it looks like he’ll gain significant attention along the way. Perhaps I should say I hope he will, for he’s got at least the germ of a sensible idea here. A universal basic income is indeed a good idea.

It’s not a new idea of course. We can horrify progressives by pointing out that one source is Charles Murray (he of “The Bell Curve”) some years back. Yang’s proposal seems remarkably similar in many ways. Actually, updated for inflation and growth, add a little rounding, and the $1,000 a month is the same proposal, as is largely paying for it by curbing other welfare benefits. But, you know, don’t tell them it’s a good idea from a right-winger they’re proposing.