Newark Mayor Ras Baraka on Monday announced his latest plan to give free money to city residents, no strings attached.
They'll start with 30 lucky people and expand it to 400 by this coming fall. This idea would be considered fringe and extreme just a few months ago, even though it's been discussed for decades. Now it will be a reality in Newark within a few weeks.
The money comes with no strings attached, that means you don't need a disability or extenuating circumstance or emergency tragedy, most of which is called "life" and should be a personal responsibility or that of your family, friends or community. But we've become brain-washed into thinking it's somehow the role of government to take care of peoples' personal issues, including and especially their finances.