TOW #15 - It's Payback Time for Women (Written)

The op-ed "It's Payback Time for Women" by Judith Shulevitz proposes an interesting economic reform: paying every citizen of the United States a universal basic income (or UBI). The benefits of a UBI, Shulevitz argues, apply not just to the poor, but women as well. In order to convince her audience of a such a radical change, Shulevitz relies heavily on real-world examples and comparison and contrast, all of which appeal to the readers' logos.

To counteract the resistance against a seemingly preposterous idea, Shulevitz begins her piece by citing countries where a UBI already exists or is being seriously considered. In fact, her opening sentence pokes fun at her readers' skepticism, "A country that gives every citizen enough cash to live on whether she needs it or not: It’s got to be either a fool’s paradise or a profligate Northern European nation." Although lighthearted, Shulevitz begins delving into the places where a UBI does not seem so unrealistic: Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Canada. The beauty of such an opener is that it addresses a fundamental counterargument from the beginning: is a UBI even feasible? Shulevitz gives the subtle response: yes, it can be--and if it's not, at least there are other nations that think it's the worth the risk.

Yet another popular counterargument is that a UBI will lower people's motivation to work and only increase "laziness" in our society. Shulevitz acknowledges this and refutes, "The U.B.I. gives workers less reason to loll about at home than do perversely disincentivizing policies like the one whereby a dollar earned is a dollar cut from a welfare check. Research suggests that, rather than weaken the will to work, unconditional regular disbursements let people manage their careers more wisely." In this quote, Shulevitz contrasts the effects of a UBI on people versus a typical welfare benefit. Interestingly, Shulevitz also considers social welfare "disincentivizing," although her solution is simply to refine the distribution of welfare, not to cut it entirely. Such a comparison allows her readers to logically conclude that, if a moral society is to protect those in need, a UBI would be the most effective option.

Shulevitz' piece uses careful rhetoric with an amalgamation of quotes from social theorists, references to Silicon Valley, sociological research, and skillful refutation of her opponents' views. Her ideas are perhaps far too radical to win over her most staunchly conservative readers, regardless of her argument. Nevertheless, to a likeminded or neutral reader, her piece was logical and effective.