Elizabeth Warren says she is open to the concept of a universal basic income, an idea being peddled by fellow Democrat presidential hopeful Andrew Yang.

Business Insider says Yang proposes "a $2.8 trillion plan for a 'Freedom Dividend' that would guarantee payments of $1,000 a month – or $12,000 a year – to every US citizen over the age of 18 without any strings attached." Yang says the $2.8 trillion annual cost would be paid for with new taxes, "including a value-added tax, and savings from lower use of welfare programs and reduced healthcare spending."

Yang cites the Brookings Institute, which says automation threatens a quarter of U.S. jobs and says his plan would help Americans to cope with the threat automation poses.

Responding to a Washington Post survey question on Yang's universal basic income proposal, Warren stated, "We absolutely must raise wages and strengthen the social safety net so that every American has basic financial security. Universal basic income and universal living wages are options to consider."

Warren's position places her even further to the left than socialist Bernie Sanders, who according to Business Insider prefers his plan "for the federal government to guarantee a job with a $15 minimum wage and health benefits to every American worker who wants one."

While Warren says universal basic income is an idea worth considering, there are other options to consider as well.

"Start with the wealth tax. Come on. Start with universal childcare and education, and investment in education from zero on through college," Warren said. "Do the student-loan-debt forgiveness, and that'll start to close the black-and-white wealth gap. Use my housing plan and attack redlining straight on. Help close the differences between the poorest in this country and the middle class."

Warren's entire outlook is flawed from the get-go. Her ideas rely heavily upon taking from those who have to keep those who have not dependent upon the government for their very existence. Many of Warren's ideas have been tried repeatedly in one form or another and have failed miserably. The rest are just so radical that she is being taken less and less seriously by potential voters.

Elizabeth Warren's vision of America is foreign to everything we as Americans believe in. Her ideas would wreck the economy while making tens of millions more Americans dependent upon big government.

Warren's ideas are dangerous to the very survival of our country and should be flatly rejected by voters.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

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