Peter Barnes argues that because of globalization, automation, and winner-take-all capitalism, there won’t be enough high-paying jobs to sustain America’s middle class in the future. Therefore, to survive economically, our middle class needs-and deserves-a supplementary source of nonlabor income.

To meet this need, Barnes proposes to give every American a share of the wealth we own together- starting with our air and financial infrastructure. These shares would pay dividends of several thousand dollars per year-money that wouldn’t be welfare or wealth redistribution but legitimate property income.