The idea of a UBI — Universal Basic Income — is gaining traction among liberals. No surprise there. To my knowledge, it’s not gaining traction among conservatives. Also no surprise. But, strangely, the most interesting proposals for a UBI are coming from libertarians. Now that is a surprise. There even seems to be a developing liberal-libertarian alliance around this.

Granted, the UBI is impossible to justify according to pure libertarian principles. But if your libertarianism is of a more practical kind, the UBI is worth a look. If you know that Charles Murray is the strongest proponent and Milton Friedman the author of the prototype we’re considering, you are almost obligated to take a look. And if you accept Murray’s calculations that even a sizable UBI would actually reduce debt if it replaced our 223 transfer programs, conservatives, too, should consider joining this movement.

There are many versions out there right now. Murray’s, to me, is the most interesting and well thought out. In a nutshell, all US citizens 21 years and older would get $13,000 a year, of which $3,000 would be set aside for health insurance. The rest would be sent electronically to a specially established bank account set up for the purpose. The UBI would be phased out — clawed back, as Murray phrases it — until it disappears for those with incomes above $70,000 a year.