What Would St. Patrick Do? A Vision for Dignity and Universal Basic Income in Nevada’s Second District
Dear Friends,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the heart of Nevada’s Second Congressional District! While many of us will don green and celebrate Irish heritage, I want to take a moment to reflect on St. Patrick—not as a mythical figure, but as a radical advocate for justice, human dignity, and the common good. I believe that if St. Patrick were with us today, he would stand with us in calling for a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for every Nevadan. Let me explain why.
St. Patrick: The First Social Justice Champion
St. Patrick’s real story is a powerful one. Kidnapped and enslaved as a teenager, Patrick experienced firsthand the cruelty of a society that treated people as property. But instead of seeking revenge, he returned to Ireland as a champion of the marginalized. In his “Letter to Coroticus,” Patrick denounced slavery in the strongest possible terms—calling out the wealthy and powerful for profiting from the suffering of others. He demanded the release of the innocent and refused to back down, even when it meant challenging kings and warlords.
Patrick’s legacy is not just about shamrocks and snakes—it’s about standing up for the dignity of every human being. He empowered women and those at the bottom of the social ladder, insisting that their lives were valuable and that justice demanded radical change. He lived among those considered “barbarians” by the Roman Empire, affirming their humanity and working for their total flourishing.
The Common Goods: An Ancient Principle for a Modern World
One of the most profound ideas Patrick helped bring to Ireland was the Christian concept of the “common goods”—that the earth’s resources belong to all, not just a privileged few. This principle echoes through history. Visionaries like Thomas Paine and Thomas Spence drew upon it to argue for a “citizen’s dividend”—a regular payment to every member of society, not as charity, but as a birthright. Their vision was clear: everyone deserves a share of our common wealth.
A Universal Basic Income for Nevada: $1,300 a Month for Every Nevadan
Today, our district sits atop some of the richest mineral deposits on earth. If Nevada were its own country, we’d be the fourth largest producer of gold in the world. Yet, too many in our communities struggle to pay rent, put food on the table, or afford healthcare, while billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, along with major mining corporations, pay income taxes that amount to only a small fraction of how much their wealth increases each year, according to a ProPublica report.
That’s why I’m proposing a bold solution rooted in the values St. Patrick championed: a Universal Basic Income of $1,300 per month, every month, for every Nevadan—no conditions, no strings attached. This isn’t just an economic policy; it’s a moral statement that says every person matters, and that the wealth generated from our land and labor should benefit all of us, not just the super-rich.
How Do We Pay for It? Fairness and Accountability
According to a report from Battle Born Progress, Nevada’s 19 billionaires have increased their wealth by $43 billion, or 71 percent, since 2017, largely due to tax laws favoring the rich. It is time for those who profit the most from our state, including billionaires and the mining industry, to pay their fair share so that ordinary Nevadans are no longer left behind. A modest tax on extreme wealth and resource extraction would be more than enough to fund a $1,300 monthly dividend for every resident, helping families thrive and local businesses grow.
This is not about punishing success; it’s about restoring balance and justice. St. Patrick would have recognized this as basic fairness—lifting up the poor, empowering the marginalized, and holding the powerful accountable.
Empowering Every Nevadan
A Universal Basic Income would do more than just reduce poverty. It would:
Give every Nevadan the freedom to pursue education, care for family, or start a business without living in constant fear of financial ruin.
Provide stability for communities still recovering from the shocks of the pandemic and economic downturns.
According to a letter from the Northern Nevada Rural Democrats, it is important to acknowledge the valuable unpaid work of caregivers, parents, and volunteers who help strengthen our district, and to ensure that payments for basic support are unconditional and free from unnecessary bureaucracy or stigma, reflecting our shared humanity.
A Vision Rooted in Dignity
This St. Patrick’s Day, let’s honor his legacy not just with parades and celebrations, but with real action to empower every Nevadan. Let’s demand a system that works for us all, where our vast natural wealth lifts every family, not just a handful of billionaires.
St. Patrick dreamed of a world where no one was enslaved, no one forgotten, and everyone had a chance to thrive. I’m running for Congress to make that vision a reality—right here in Nevada’s Second District.
Thank you for believing in a future where dignity, justice, and common goods belong to everyone.
In solidarity,
Gamaliel “Gamy” Zavala Enriquez
Independent Democratic Candidate for Congress, NVCD02
