> as as close to a basic income as you can currently imagine.

More like as far as I can imagine.

Basic Income has to be provided to everyone, not just the ones who don't have a job. That's the whole point. It's not that the amount must be sufficient to live off of, that can be worked out later, but it has to start with everyone on board and that's what makes it "Basic".

isn't that just inflation with extra steps?

The point is everyone would have contributed evenly to this inflation if you look at it from that angle.

depends how much you claw back in taxes for higher earners