The size of the program hinders any attempt at success.

11. A Program Of This Magnitude Has Never Been Implemented And Can’t Be Modeled Accurately

There is a lack of modeling showing that a JG can be implemented in the first place. As [I] noted, it has never been done. However, an unemployment buffer has been proven to work to achieve prosperity over long time periods. The employment buffer has never been proven and will require a huge amount of factual data and proof to overcome the uncertainty. Some claim an unemployment buffer has failed us. But over 23% of all the goods and services made since 1AD were produced from 2001 to 2010. And despite claims of “American exceptionalism” it’s difficult to overlook the FACT that America, in just 235 years, has built the most dynamic, prosperous and wealthy nation that man kind has EVER seen. To claim that the world is not making enormous strides in terms of productivity and living standards is not grounded in reality. Yes, we are currently suffering mass hardship due to the balance sheet recession (which was caused in large part by money manager capitailsm – something I’d help resolve via the full productivity program), but let’s not take things out of context here by losing sight of the forest for the trees. There was no unemployment in our caveman days, but certainly you wouldn’t argue that living standards were higher then….If you’re going to build a model for the JG then you have to essentially prove that the current model (the greatest wealth and prosperity creating machine in human history) is broken and that your new model is better.

The problem with current models…They’re built on a total lack of empirical evidence. JGers are building models based on the same sort of thinking that goes into efficient market models. The problem with models like this is that you don’t know what’s wrong with them until they break. And the problem in any JG model is the praxeological effect. No one knows what the true behavioral response will be. You’re assuming a Chicago School style of rational choice. It’s a colossal error! Economists have built broken models based on these false assumptions time and time again.

Unfortunately, the only true way to know if a JG is workable is to implement one and find out. Only then can we actually test the theory, because, yes, this is almost entirely theory! Implementing it in an economy as large, diverse and complex as the USA on any large scale would be beyond irresponsible. And yes, as a citizen of this country who cares deeply about its well-being, there is no way I could ever back such a policy without substantial empirical proof of its effects. Perhaps over time these programs will develop in smaller comparable countries, but until there are real workable models then I am afraid that the models are built on quick sand.