RUSH: On NPR and PBS, when it comes to time to pronounce Stockton, California, they call it “Stockton.” Stockton, California, is about to launch an experiment, a no-strings, guaranteed basic income of $500 a month for its residents to eliminate poverty.

Now, they’re gonna start with select group of residents early next year. Michael Tubbs, Stockton’s 27-year-old mayor, says, “Those who get the free money are gonna be tracked and studied.” I’ll bet they will be. He hopes that they’ll collect enough data in a few years to figure out what the minimum people deserve is. Money not coming taxpayers yet. A bunch of stupid liberals are gonna pay for this. The initial handout from a group calling itself the Economic Security Project, Facebook cofounder Chris Hughes — more money than he deserves or knows what to do with — also cofounded the scheme.

He hopes that taxpayers will eventually pay $500 a month to every American, not just in Stockton, but everywhere, who earn less than $50,000 a year so that they can have income security. Now, as you would predict, a bunch of Stockton residents are drooling at the chance to get free money. They’re already sending letters and emails to the young mayor begging to make the list. This is ridiculous, and it is stupid. It cannot be afforded. It doesn’t reward work. There’s nothing about this that is sustainable.

It’s nothing but a bunch of liberal politicians playing Santa Claus with everybody else’s money. And it will never work. And it will not lead to a better Stockton. It will not lead to a better America. It’s an absolutely dumb and stupid, irresponsible idea conceived by a bunch of people who haven’t the slightest idea what they’re doing. And that’s being kind.