10 grand for everyone

Charles Murray is a libertarian scholar who jump started the welfare reform movement with his classic book Losing Ground. Later he (with a co-author) wrote a controversial (and somewhat misunderstood) book called The Bell Curve which suggested a strong correlation between a person's intelligence and level of prosperity. It also argued that intelligence was largely genetic and not evenly distributed.

Now he's proposing that we abolish the welfare state and replace it with a cash grant of $ 10,000/year to every American. You must use $3000 for health care (maybe you have to buy a policy at age 21 and then keep it place thereafter). The government will give you nothing else. Ever.

I seem to recall that this was part of George McGovern's campaign for President in 1972. He was going to give everyone a basic grant, although he was not proposing the abolition of all other social welfare programs.

I don't know that I agree with this, but Murry is always interesting. He puts forth the details and considers objections in a new book.