>So there seems to be precedent that this can work, if you have a massive sovereign wealth fund that is fed by revenues from shared resources.
Sure, if you have a virtually limitless supply of free money, you can give away free money. Alaskans like the fund so much because a) that money goes into their pockets rather than the pockets of politicians or the wealthy and well-connected, and b) it's not welfare. Unless you have a large resource/population ratio, basic income generally isn't feasible.
It's not welfare as welfare is commonly understood: a subsidy for the poor that everyone else pays for. To Alaskans, it's just free money, so the negative connotations that typically come with the welfare label don't apply.
Sure, if you have a virtually limitless supply of free money, you can give away free money. Alaskans like the fund so much because a) that money goes into their pockets rather than the pockets of politicians or the wealthy and well-connected, and b) it's not welfare. Unless you have a large resource/population ratio, basic income generally isn't feasible.