EBG —

I agree that community is important, but I am not sure I completely agree with your reasoning. The idea that poverty helps build communities — everyone gets together and gives each other a helping hand when times are tough if the government would just get out of the way — seems even more “libertarian” (in a negative sense) than a UBI. The idea that only the government can build community, because government actors know better than the people just what they need, seems to go to the other extreme, too elitist. I think the classical liberal position I would take is somewhere in the middle — the government should use cash assistance to alleviate absolute poverty, but without micromanaging people’s lives. But a UBI would not solve all problems, roles for government in education, health care, infrastructure would remain.

Maybe if you would spell out your own positive program in more detail we would see we are not so far apart.