How Do You Pay For It?

The most common question in American politics is, "How will we pay for it?" Meanwhile, the federal government simultaneously spends trillions on foreign wars and corporate subsidies without a second thought. My plan for a Freedom Dividend (UBI) and Universal Healthcare Access is based on a fundamental shift from a "War State" to a "Citizen State."

By consolidating the current $4 trillion federal budget and capturing the wealth generated by the AI revolution, we can fund a floor of dignity for every American without raising personal income taxes on the working class.

1. The War Dividend: Ending the "Global Policeman" Model

The United States spends more on its military than the next nine countries combined. In the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, the Department of Defense budget has hovered near $850–$900 billion, and this does not include the hundreds of billions spent on supplemental aid to foreign nations.

• Non-Interventionist Savings: By ending unconditional military aid and closing redundant overseas bases in non-combat zones, we can safely reduce the defense budget by $300–$500 billion annually.
• Ending Strategic Foreign Aid: We currently spend approximately $60 billion a year on foreign assistance. While we will always maintain our commitment to international natural disaster relief and global health emergencies, we must end the tens of billions spent on foreign militaries and strategic political laundering. That money belongs in America, not in the treasuries of foreign regimes.
• Audit the Pentagon: The Pentagon has failed its last six audits. By eliminating documented "lost" funds and procurement waste, we reclaim billions in existing tax revenue that is currently vanishing into thin air.

2. Consolidating the Bureaucratic Middleman

The current federal safety net is a patchwork of over 100 different welfare programs (SNAP, TANF, SSI, housing vouchers, etc.). These programs are inefficient and expensive to manage because they require an army of bureaucrats to monitor your income, your assets, and even your marital status.

• Administrative Efficiency: We currently spend billions annually just on the administration of welfare. By consolidating these into a single, automated Freedom Dividend, we eliminate the need for massive federal agencies and intrusive "means-testing" departments.
• The Voluntary Swap: Under my plan, the Freedom Dividend is a voluntary swap. Citizens can choose between their current benefits or a $1,500/month check with no strings attached. This naturally reduces the overhead of the current welfare state by hundreds of billions of dollars as people opt for the simplicity and dignity of cash over bureaucratic micromanagement.

3. The 21st Century VAT

As AI, robotics, and automation increase productivity, the "gains" are currently being hoarded by a handful of tech giants. A VAT is like a tariff on the production of goods or services as they pass through the supply chain—the same system used by almost every other developed nation.

• Capturing the AI Revolution: I propose a percentage-based VAT specifically designed to capture the wealth of automation. Every time an AI makes a transaction or a robot processes a package, the American people get a cut.
• Revenue Potential: At a 10% rate (half the average of most European nations), a VAT would generate approximately $800 billion to $1 trillion in annual revenue.
• Tailored Exemptions: To protect the working class, necessities like groceries, diapers, and hygiene products would be strictly exempt from the VAT. Luxury goods and big-tech services will carry the primary load.

4. Economic Growth and Tax Base Expansion

When you put money into the hands of a billionaire, it sits in a stagnant offshore account. When you put money into the hands of a Tennessean, it is spent at the local grocery store, the mechanic, and the hardware shop.

• The Velocity of Money: Economists estimate that a Freedom Dividend would grow the economy by $2.5 trillion over eight years. This growth creates new jobs and increases the local and state tax base without the need to raise tax rates on individuals.
• Healthcare Savings: Universal Healthcare Access reduces the overall cost of the economy by eliminating the trillions spent on private insurance administrative bloat. By moving to a simplified system, we save the American economy an estimated $2 trillion over a decade.