LIVES. NOW NEARLY A YEAR INTO THEIR EXPERIMENT, THE
SURPRISING WAY PEOPLE
ARE USING THAT MONEY.
HERE’S SAM BROCK.
>> IN CALIFORNIA’S
CENTRAL VALLEY
STOCKTON HAS SEEN ITS
SHARE OF FINANCIAL
PROBLEMS BUT IS
BOUNCING BACK.
IT’S EMBRACING A PLAN
THAT CAN TRANSFORM
LIVES.
>> IS STOCKTON A GOOD
REPRESENTATION OF WHAT
AMERICAN CITIES LOOK
LIKE?
>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY
IN TERMS OF THE
PROMISE AND PERIL.
20% LIVES IN POVERTY.
>> NOW FOR 125
FAMILIES A MONUMENTAL
CHANGE IN FORTUNE.
FUNDED WITH SEED, THE
CITY SENDS $500 ON
DEBIT CARDS NO SPRINGS
ATTACHED TO RANDOM
RECIPIENT TO RESIDENCE
WHERE THE MEDIAN
INCOME IS LOW.
THEY’RE BETTING PEOPLE
WILL SPEND WISELY.
SHE SAYS THE PROGRAM
IS ALREADY BEARING
FRUIT.
>> WHAT DOES AN EXTRA
$500 A MONTH MEAN TO
YOU?
>> IT MEANS A LOT,
BECAUSE SERIOUSLY
BEFORE SEED CAME
ALONG, I WAS PAYING A
LOT OF BILLS AND
DIDN’T KNOW HOW I WAS
GOING TO EAT.
>> THE GRANDMOTHER OF
NINE LIVES ON A FIXED
INCOME.
HOSTING A FAMILY
DINNER WAS TOUGH.
>> I HAD TO ASK THE
KIDS TO PUT MONEY IN.
I WAS SO EMBARRASSED.
>> CAN YOU DO THAT NOW
THAT YOU HAVE THIS
MONEY?
>> WE’VE HAD A COUPLE
OF REAL NICE DINNERS
SINCE THIS GOT
STARTED.
THEY LOVE IT BE.
>> SHE’S NOT ALONE
FRETTING OVER FOOD AND
SECURITY.
ALMOST 40% GOES TO THE
DINNER TABLE, ABOUT A
QUARTER TO PURCHASES
AT BIG BOX STORIES,
THE REST AN UTILITIES,
AUTO EXPENKSS.
ENCOURAGING NEWS.
>> FROM DAY ONE, A
THOUSAND DOLLARS A
MONTH FOR EVERY
AMERICAN ADULT.
>> THIS VISION.
>> SEEMS TO ME IS A
GUARANTEED ANNUAL
INCOME.
>> DATES BACK TO MLK.
>> I LEARNED ABOUT
BASIC INCOME FROM
STUDYING DR. KING.
>> CRITICS COUNTER THE
MONEY COULD BE MISUSED
OR DAMPEN EFFORTS TO
GET A JOB.
BUT IN STOCKTON,
THERE’S UPSIDE.
>> IF WE’RE ABLE TO
GIVE THEM 5 HAUNDS A
MONTH, THEY’RE ABLE TO
GET NEW JOBS.
>> SOME HAVE ALREADY
FOUND FULL-TIME WORK,
AND OTHERS --
>> IT’S LIKE BEING
ABLE TO BREATHE.
>> A RENEWED SENSE OF
DIGNITY, EMPOWERMENT.
THEY’VE THEY’RE HOPING