Christian Tod's film essay argues for the creation of an unconditional basic income. Under this concept, the federal government would simply pay everyone an annual fee just for existing—or, as its proponents call it, a human right without service in return. Actually, an American precedent exists for this strategy: when oil was first drilled in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay, the state divided some of the funds it received from the energy companies and dispersed it to residents. But this was on a limited scale, owing to Alaska's relatively small population, and Free Lunch Society is never quite able to make the leap from this distinctive example to a convincing large-scale national cash distribution solution. Indeed, the most frustrating aspect of the film lies in its chronic inability to flesh out just how this idea could work, especially in view of a federal government that is running a deficit in the trillions. Instead, viewers are presented with fanciful detours of imagination featuring pointless contemplations of what positive work could be accomplished by some people if they were given money without doing anything to earn it. Serving up a happy fantasy that does not seem to be truly grounded in reality, this is an optional purchase. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Free Lunch Society
(2017) 92 min. DVD: $398. Icarus Films. PPR. Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 2
Free Lunch Society
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