My response to yet another misleading editorial on Direct Cash Payments from the WaPo board

 Please show me your magic wand of "targeting."  This is the 4th article you have published, second from the editorial board against Direct Cash Payments.  And the 4th time that your "targeting" has remained vague at best.  Until you explain exactly how you plan to "target" AND get the relief to people as soon as possible, you are wrong.  Direct cash transfers are the most progressive idea out there, in general.

Your arguments:
1. People who don't need it will get it.  Mine: people who DO need it won't unless your "targeting" is 100% efficient.
2. Unemployment benefits would be better.  Mine: that misses a large swath of people, including gig workers and stay at home parents (who are staying at homer to educate their children).  AND it is a drag on employment.
3. It's expensive.  Mine: So is giving everyone a free vaccine which I assume we both support.  At what price is a human life not worthy of being saved.  The tax code can be changed to recoup it from the wealthy if the Democratic Majority and Biden wish it to be (and I hope they do).
4. People won't spend it the way you think they should.  Mine: Why don't you trust me to make that decision and not some federal government bureaucracy. Pay student loans?  Is that okay with you?  Or do I have to go to Applebee's?

But the arguments you ignore: Efficiency.  How many meals will people miss because the "targeted" aid gets there a few weeks or months later than Direct Cash Payments.

I BEG the editorial board to actually learn about Universal Basic Income and the progressiveness of Direct Cash Payments.  Here is where to start. https://medium.com/basic-income/there-is-no-policy-proposal-more-progressive-than-andrew-yangs-freedom-dividend-72d3850a6245

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