The pernicious economic theory of a guaranteed basic income for Americans has swept the nation in recent years and won over plenty of advocates, predominantly among progressive leftists, though some conservatives and libertarians have historically also toyed with the idea.

In Cook County, Illinois, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to make permanent a taxpayer-funded guaranteed basic income pilot program that ran for two years, according to Breitbart.

Yet, while left-leaning backers of the program are undoubtedly thrilled with the progressive victory, some conservative opponents have warned that making the program permanent is a "failed strategy" that will have an overall detrimental effect on recipients of the unearned taxpayer-funded benefits.

Pilot program made permanent

Fox News reported that the Board of Commissioners for Cook County, the second-largest county in the nation, voted last week to unanimously approve a $7.5 million expenditure to make permanent its guaranteed basic income pilot program that ran from 2022 to 2024.

Originally funded with $42 million in federal taxpayer dollars through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was ostensibly intended to provide temporary financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot program disbursed $500 monthly payments to around 3,250 low- and middle-income families in the Chicagoland area.

The pilot program was hailed by backers as a "historic success" worthy of being continued, and the county commissioners agreed to do exactly that based on the results of a survey conducted of program participants.

The survey found, unsurprisingly, that solid majorities of recipients of the "no strings attached" monthly payments reported feeling more financially secure, and that the program had had a positive impact on their mental health while also reducing stress.

It was further found that nearly all of the recipients had used the extra largesse from taxpayers to either handle unexpected financial emergencies or to help cover necessary monthly expenses like food, rent, utility payments, and transportation costs.

Idea supported by 150 progressive mayors and county officials

Fox News reported that the Cook County guaranteed basic income program is supported by a largely progressive coalition of city leaders known as Mayors for a Guaranteed Income, of which Democratic Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is a proud member.

In a statement on the group's website, Johnson said, "The results of the first guaranteed income pilot are inspiring, not only helping participants afford basic necessities, but having a positive impact on their mental health and wellbeing."

The outlet noted that, since the first pilot program was launched in 2018, around 150 city mayors and county officials have come on board with the idea of providing taxpayer-funded monthly payments of up to $1,000 to generally low-income participants with no other requirements or stipulations.

This is a "failed strategy" with negative results

Not everyone is thrilled with the plan to make Cook County's guaranteed basic income pilot program permanent, including the conservative-leaning Illinois Policy Institute, which stands in vocal opposition to what it views as a very bad idea.

"Cook County is making its guaranteed income pilot permanent and committing millions to a failed strategy already shown to leave people with less work experience and lower earnings," Josh Bandoch, the IPI's head of policy, told Fox News.

"That should alarm anyone who wants real, long-term progress for low-income residents," he added. "A recent pilot program in northern Illinois, including Cook County, decreased workforce participation and lowered individual income (before transfers)."