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[–] flimflamedthezimzam 0 points 5 points (+5|-0) ago 

Because of automation. I don't personally see it myself, but it makes sense in a way. Before the industrial revolution we needed essentially everyone to work agriculture until they died. After we had machines to do a bulk of the work for the US we were able use the surplus to have children study for 8, and then eventually 12 years as a standard instead of working the fields, we could also allow the elderly to spend the last 5 and now 10-15ish years of their lives not working. (This standard of living obviously varies through the world. Developed nations afford their population 16 or more years of education, healthcare, and a longer retirement. Africa/developing nations/the US it's less.)

Automation is predicted to be as big of a shift or larger than industrialization, so Basic Income is seen by some as a way to address that surplus. I'm not personally a big fan of it yet, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.