Of course, it is possible to fund UBI in America. Based on my calculations from a forthcoming article in Basic Income Studies, this one-minute video argues that a UBI large enough to eliminate poverty in the United States will cost 2.95% of the GDP per year–even if no other entitlement programs are replaced or reduced.
It’s very simple. The amount of funding available for a Residents’ Dividend can be measured in the price of land. The price of land measures the amount of rent the landowner can steal from the commons.
I´ve made my own calculations:
46.4 million people, live in Spain of which, 9 million are less than 18 years. The cost of the RB would 8400 euros per year per adult and 1.680 for children under 18 years. This gives a total of 329.280 million euros. This is the gross cost of a RBU in Spain. To get an idea, this represents 29.4% of the GDP of Spain in 2016.
You’re forgetting that the “gross cost” is meaningless. It’s not a real cost. It says nothing about the real tradeoffs involved in providing a UBI. For that you have to look at the net cost.