Tech billionaires got rich off us. Now they want to feed us the crumbs

In a future where robots take our jobs, the tech elite see universal basic income as a fair exchange. But don't forget - their wealth came from what we provided

Every month, nearly 20% of the country gets a Social Security check. What if that number were 100%? What if the government gave everyone an income?

That's the premise behind universal basic income (UBI), an idea with a long and surprisingly mainstream history. Its popularity last peaked in the 1970s and now, after a relatively dormant few decades, it's making a comeback. Pilot projects have been announced in Finland, the Netherlands, and Canada. This summer, Swiss voters will vote in a referendum that could give every adult about $2,500 a month.