United States of AI Ethical Policy - The Economy We Deserve

A Civic Brief from Future in Common

Part of the series: The United States of AI: An Ethical Policy Platform for American Workers

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What This Brief Covers:

For too long, economic growth hasn’t translated into economic security. As AI reshapes work, productivity, and profit at historic speed, we face a critical choice: double down on trickle-down—or build an economy that truly delivers for everyone.

This bold civic brief explores how AI is changing the structure of our economy—and how we can redesign it around dignity, shared prosperity, and public investment. From public tech dividends to new income models, it outlines the building blocks of a fairer post-labor economy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI may cause massive job loss and redefine how we measure value
• What a “digital social contract” could look like in practice
• How to fund public goods in an age of private AI gains
• Worker-centered solutions that protect income, agency, and purpose

Who It’s For:

• Policymakers, educators, and economists looking ahead
• Voters and advocates concerned about jobs and automation
• Future-focused organizers and civic entrepreneurs
• Anyone asking: What kind of economy do we really want?

Why It Matters:

The coming AI boom could widen inequality to historic levels—or help us finally build an economy rooted in belonging. If we act now, we don’t have to choose between innovation and justice. We can have both.

Download includes:

PDF of the full civic brief formatted for easy sharing.

License & Use

This brief is copyrighted © 2025 by Deion Lemelle / Future in Common.

The ideas are meant to be shared, adapted, and built upon.

Please do not republish the full document without permission.

You’re welcome to cite, quote, or use the concepts with attribution.