646 - Speenhamland and Nixon
4Digest
The podcast "The Dollop" delves into the history of the Speenhamland system, a groundbreaking poverty relief program implemented in England during the late 18th century. The hosts, Dave and Gerrath, begin by introducing the concept of the Speenhamland system, which provided a basic income to poor families based on the price of bread. They then discuss the system's origins, its implementation, and the controversies surrounding it. The hosts explore the arguments of those who opposed the system, including prominent figures like Joseph Townsend and Thomas Malthus, who believed that poverty was necessary to motivate people to work. They also examine the system's long-term impact, including its eventual demise and the rise of workhouses. The podcast then shifts its focus to the Captain Swing riots, a series of protests and uprisings in England in the 1830s, which were fueled by workers' demands for a living wage and their anger towards workhouses and agricultural machinery. The hosts discuss the Royal Commission Report, a government inquiry into rural working conditions and poverty, which concluded that the Speenhamland system was a failure. However, they also present recent research that challenges the traditional narrative surrounding the system, suggesting that it was actually successful in reducing poverty. The podcast concludes by exploring the historical roots of UBI, tracing its origins back to Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence, who advocated for land taxes and unconditional cash payments. The hosts discuss the growing interest in UBI in the 19th and 20th centuries, including President Richard Nixon's attempt to implement a UBI plan in the United States. They also examine the results of UBI experiments conducted in the United States, particularly in Seattle and Denver, which have shown that UBI can be an effective tool for reducing poverty and improving the lives of participants. The podcast ends by emphasizing the ongoing struggle for UBI and the need to challenge the prevailing narratives that demonize poverty and welfare programs.
Outlines
The Speenhamland System: A History of Poverty Relief
This episode explores the history of the Speenhamland system, a radical 18th-century English poverty relief program, and its connection to the modern debate over Universal Basic Income (UBI). The hosts discuss the system's origins, its implementation, and the controversies surrounding it.
The Poor Law and its Flaws
The hosts discuss the Poor Law, which was implemented in England during Queen Elizabeth's reign. The law divided the poor into two categories: the deserving poor (elderly, children, disabled) and the idle poor (unemployed). The hosts critique the law's assumptions about the unemployed and its reliance on forced labor.
The Bread Riots and the Wheat Crisis
The episode delves into the bread riots of 1795, a period of widespread hunger and unrest in England. The hosts explain the factors contributing to the crisis, including Napoleon's wars, bad harvests, and price gouging by large farms.
The Speenhamland System: A Radical Solution
The hosts introduce the Speenhamland system, a radical reform implemented in the south of England to address poverty. The system provided a basic income to poor families, tied to the price of bread. The hosts highlight the system's success in reducing hunger and unrest.
Opposition to the Speenhamland System
The hosts discuss the opposition to the Speenhamland system, particularly from those who believed that helping the poor would discourage work. They explore the arguments of prominent figures like Joseph Townsend and Thomas Malthus, who argued that poverty was necessary to motivate people to work.
The Speenhamland System's Legacy
The hosts examine the long-term impact of the Speenhamland system, including its eventual demise and the rise of workhouses. They discuss the role of economist David Ricardo, who argued that basic income would lead to less food production and social unrest.
The Captain Swing Riots and the Royal Commission Report
The episode focuses on the Captain Swing riots, a series of protests and uprisings in England in the 1830s. The hosts describe the workers' demands for a living wage and their anger towards workhouses and agricultural machinery. They also discuss the Royal Commission Report, a government inquiry into rural working conditions and poverty, which concluded that the Speenhamland system was a failure.
Rethinking the Speenhamland System
The hosts reveal that recent research has challenged the traditional narrative surrounding the Speenhamland system. They argue that the system was actually successful in reducing poverty and that the negative consequences attributed to it were largely exaggerated.
The Rise of Universal Basic Income (UBI)
The hosts explore the historical roots of UBI, tracing its origins back to Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence, who advocated for land taxes and unconditional cash payments. They discuss the growing interest in UBI in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Nixon's UBI Plan and its Demise
The episode focuses on President Richard Nixon's attempt to implement a UBI plan in the United States. The hosts describe the political climate surrounding the plan, the opposition it faced, and the role of Martin Anderson, a conservative economist who convinced Nixon to abandon the plan.
The Success of UBI Experiments
The hosts discuss the results of UBI experiments conducted in the United States, particularly in Seattle and Denver. They highlight the success of these programs in improving the lives of participants and debunking the myth that UBI leads to laziness.
The Ongoing Fight for UBI
The hosts conclude the episode by emphasizing the ongoing struggle for UBI and the need to challenge the prevailing narratives that demonize poverty and welfare programs. They argue that UBI is a viable solution to poverty and that its implementation would benefit society as a whole.
Keywords
Speenhamland System
A system of poor relief implemented in England in the late 18th century. It provided a basic income to poor families, tied to the price of bread. The system was controversial, with some arguing that it discouraged work and others claiming it was successful in reducing poverty.
Captain Swing Riots
A series of protests and uprisings in England in the 1830s, led by workers demanding a living wage and protesting against workhouses and agricultural machinery. The riots were named after a fictional figure, "Captain Swing," who was used as a symbol of the workers' resistance.
Universal Basic Income (UBI)
A system in which every citizen receives a regular, unconditional cash payment from the government. UBI has been proposed as a solution to poverty, inequality, and economic insecurity. It has been implemented in various forms in different countries, with mixed results.
Martin Anderson
A conservative economist who played a key role in convincing President Richard Nixon to abandon his UBI plan. Anderson argued that UBI would lead to negative consequences, such as increased laziness and decreased productivity.
Thomas Malthus
An English economist who argued that population growth would outstrip food production, leading to widespread poverty and famine. Malthus believed that poverty was a natural consequence of human behavior and that attempts to alleviate it would be futile.
Joseph Townsend
An English clergyman who argued that poverty was necessary to motivate people to work. Townsend believed that the poor should be allowed to suffer in order to encourage them to find employment.
David Ricardo
An English economist who argued that basic income would lead to less food production and social unrest. Ricardo believed that workers would work less if they received a guaranteed income, leading to a decline in economic output.
Edwin Chadwick
The secretary of the Royal Commission that investigated rural working conditions and poverty in England. Chadwick was known for his strong belief in the need for social reform and his commitment to improving public health.
Q&A
What was the Speenhamland system and how did it work?
The Speenhamland system was a radical reform implemented in the south of England to address poverty. It provided a basic income to poor families, tied to the price of bread. The system was designed to ensure that no one would starve and that families would have enough money to meet their basic needs.
What were the main arguments against the Speenhamland system?
Critics of the Speenhamland system argued that it discouraged work, as people would be less motivated to find employment if they received a guaranteed income. They also argued that the system would lead to population growth, as people would have more children if they were not worried about poverty.
What was the role of Martin Anderson in the demise of Nixon's UBI plan?
Martin Anderson was a conservative economist who convinced President Richard Nixon to abandon his UBI plan. Anderson argued that UBI would lead to negative consequences, such as increased laziness and decreased productivity. He presented Nixon with a fabricated report that claimed the Speenhamland system had been a failure, which ultimately swayed Nixon's decision.
What were the results of the UBI experiments conducted in the United States?
The UBI experiments conducted in the United States, particularly in Seattle and Denver, were largely successful. They showed that UBI did not lead to increased laziness or decreased productivity. Instead, participants used the extra income to improve their lives, invest in education, and start businesses.
What is the significance of the Speenhamland system in the history of UBI?
The Speenhamland system is a significant example of an early attempt to implement a basic income program. While it was ultimately unsuccessful, it laid the groundwork for future discussions about UBI and its potential to address poverty and inequality. The system's legacy continues to be debated, with some arguing that it was a failure and others claiming that it was a valuable experiment that provided valuable lessons for future UBI initiatives.
Show Notes
Comedians Gareth Reynolds and Dave Anthony examine the Speenhamland poverty reforms.
Table of contents
United States
show begins at 4:12