We asked “Do you believe in a universal Basic Income Guarantee?  What amount would be satisfactory?” More than half of respondents approved of a universal stipend of something between the poverty level and the median income, and another 9% approved of a universal stipend of something less than the poverty level.

We do have some libertarians in the audience; 22% thought all redistributive social welfare should be eliminated. And 14% endorsed the idea of social welfare for only the poor and needy, i.e. “means-testing,” which would eliminate universal health and public pension programs for the aged, unless all retirees are considered needy. But two to one support for BIG is pretty firm support for an idea still struggling to be heard in the policy debate.

Our next poll is a gauge of how ready we are to use emerging technologies to transcend mental and biological limitations:

If sleep could be safely eliminated, how much less would you sleep?