We are, for sure, on a collision course with something.
The infrastructure to administer a kind of UBI is already in place, via electronic food stamps. Meaning that it's easy to control what people get to use their money for. As in, you could easily exclude certain things — be it drugs and hookers, or just alcohol and gambling — and boost payments for those who meet certain spending patterns. Limit the funds to essentials like utilities, rent and food, the idea being to minimize homelessness and destitution, and perhaps offer people a little more freedom in how they approach creating additional income through the gig economy.
As a food stamp recipient, there are plenty of things I can't use my card for... but if I buy lots of fresh produce, I get up to an extra $60 a month.
Is that an infringement on our so-called "freedom?" Here in the USA — especially — we're absolutely terrified of anyone being able to tell us to do anything specific, at all. We're all wrapped up in "freedom TO" do things... rather than "freedom FROM" certain things, like homelessnerss and poverty.
It is sad that people with real workable options are generally out of the show, like Mayor Pete, and Andrew Wang and others.