Photo by Erkka Wessman on Unsplash

Let’s Face it, Humanity, Everything is Changing

A Blueprint for Realizing an Abundant Future

Peter T. Coleman

Envision the year 2035. Artificial intelligence — now woven into every fiber of daily life — has rendered the vast majority of traditional “jobs” obsolete. Machines farm our fields, manage our infrastructure, diagnose and heal our bodies, and even produce art and literature that once bore the exclusive imprint of human genius. In this world, Universal Basic Income (UBI) provides every person with a dignified living wage, freeing us from the grind of wage labor. As the hum of assembly lines and the clack of keyboards fade, a profound question emerges: How will we find meaning, purpose, belonging, and solidarity when our old structures of work no longer define us?

Reclaiming Time for Human Flourishing. When our economic needs are met by UBI, time ceases to be a luxury and becomes the canvas on which we paint our lives. Freed from the imperative to sell our hours for survival, we can pursue intrinsically motivated activities: cultivating gardens that nourish body and soul; apprenticing in crafts and trades that connect us to tradition; and learning new skills — not for profit, but for the joy of mastery. In this renaissance of “free time,” education becomes a lifelong odyssey rather than a credentialing treadmill. Universities evolve into open forums where people of all ages engage in guided inquiry, creative collaboration, and intergenerational mentorship. Far from idle, our days brim with intellectual curiosity, hands-on experimentation, and artistic exploration.

Reweaving the Social Fabric. In our pre-2035 world, workplaces served as primary sites of community — where friendships were forged, identities were shaped, and collective rituals took place. With paid employment no longer the main social glue, we must build new rituals and institutions to foster belonging. Neighborhood “makerspaces” and “knowledge commons” become the hubs of civic life: places where people collaborate on local projects, share resources, and celebrate cultural heritage. Regular “repair cafés” and communal kitchens encourage mutual aid, breaking down social barriers as residents fix bikes, cook meals, and support each other’s well-being. Digital platforms, having matured beyond addictive attention engines, now function as tools for genuine connection — matching individuals to local initiatives, facilitating micro-volunteering, and fostering cross-cultural dialogue.

Redefining Purpose Through Service and Stewardship. The eradication of meaningless labor does not diminish our yearning to contribute. Instead, we turn our energies toward stewardship — of each other, of ecosystems, and of our collective future. Citizens embrace roles as “planetary stewards,” participating in large-scale environmental monitoring programs, restoring degraded landscapes, and refining sustainable technologies. Healthcare transforms into a partnership model: individuals take active roles in preventative wellness, guided by AI-enhanced coaches, while human caregivers focus on emotional support, companionship, and palliative care. In education, learners co-design curricula with mentors, pursuing projects that address community needs — designing public art to reflect local stories, mapping pollinator habitats, or developing open-source software to increase accessibility for people with disabilities. Purpose flourishes when our work directly enriches the lives of others and the health of our planet.

Cultivating the Care Economy. As caregiving — once under-valued because it could not be priced — emerges as the cornerstone of social cohesion, communities invest in centers for child development, elder support, and mental health. Trained facilitators and empathetic companions, human caregivers provide irreplaceable emotional labor, fostering intergenerational bonds and combatting loneliness. Neighborhood “care hubs” become as central to daily life as grocery stores once were, hosting group activities, peer counseling, and skills exchanges. In this ecosystem, the act of caring is recognized as a vital contribution to societal well-being.

Cultivating Solidarity Across Difference. In the absence of workplace hierarchies, new sources of social stratification must be dismantled. UBI reduces economic inequality, but true solidarity arises from shared purpose. Worldwide networks of “solidarity circles” — small, self-governing groups bonded by shared commitments, whether to artistic creation, ecological restoration, or social justice — transcend geography and background. Through immersive cultural exchanges and cooperative ventures, people experience firsthand the richness of different traditions and worldviews. Global “Time Banks” complement UBI by allowing individuals to lend and borrow services — teaching guitar in exchange for language lessons, or childcare in exchange for elder companionship — reinforcing reciprocity and mutual respect.

Civic Engagement and Global Solidarity. Universal income distribution liberates citizens to devote time to civic participation. In 2035, local assemblies elect “participatory councils” that guide community investments, from green infrastructure projects to cultural festivals. Digital platforms ensure transparency and inclusion, enabling even the most marginalized voices to shape policies. At a global level, cross-border coalitions address climate change, public health, and human rights, forging solidarities based on shared planetary stewardship rather than national interests. Volunteerism becomes ubiquitous, and the boundary between “professional” and “amateur” activism dissolves.

Spiritual and Cultural Renewal. In a society no longer defined by material accumulation, spiritual exploration experiences a resurgence. People engage in contemplative practices — meditation, pilgrimage, ritual — that cultivate empathy and interconnectedness. Cultural exchanges flourish: festivals celebrate the world’s diverse traditions, and virtual reality allows participants to inhabit one another’s lived experiences. This rich tapestry of spiritual and cultural life fosters a profound sense of belonging, reminding us that our shared humanity is the greatest treasure.

Fostering Transcendent Narratives. Meaning is woven into the stories we tell about ourselves and our communities. In 2035, the dominant narrative shifts from “I work, therefore I am” to “I contribute to life’s unfolding tapestry.” Epics of human-AI collaboration — where humans guide AI to solve grand challenges, from reversing climate change to mapping the depths of our oceans and minds — become the myths we pass to the next generation. Art and literature, liberated from commercial constraints, explore new forms of collective authorship: multi-sensory performance installations co-created by artists and audiences; interactive digital narratives that evolve in real time; and living museums where participants reenact forgotten histories to heal intergenerational traumas.

A Call to Imagination and Action. Reaching this future requires intentional design today. Policymakers must implement UBI sustainably, accompanied by robust public investments in education, healthcare, and the commons. Civil society must prototype new community institutions and rituals that foster connection. Technologists must orient AI development toward emancipation, not exploitation — ensuring that machines amplify our capacity for empathy, creativity, and collaboration. And each of us must cultivate the inner resources — curiosity, compassion, resilience — that allow us to thrive in a world unmoored from wage labor.

By 2035, work as we know it may have vanished, but human potential will remain boundless. In our liberated moments, we will discover what it truly means to live fully: to learn, to create, to care, and to stand together as co-authors of our shared destiny. In a world where machines toil for us, the greatest labor of all becomes the work of the heart and mind — building communities, nurturing relationships, and weaving a planet-wide web of solidarity that sustains us all.

Your Action Plan for an Abundant America by 2035

A Citizen’s Guide to Building the Future We Want

America stands at a crossroads. We can let automation and AI displace workers while wealth concentrates at the top, or we can harness these powerful tools to create an economy that works for everyone. The choice is ours — and the time to act is now.

Here’s what you can do to help build an abundant, human-centered future by 2035:

1. Champion Economic Security for All Americans

What We’re Building: A guarantee that every American can meet their basic needs while pursuing meaningful work, education, and community service.

Your Actions:

• Contact your representatives monthly to support Universal Basic Income pilot programs in your state
• Join or start a local UBI advocacy group — search for existing groups or create one through Meetup
• Support candidates at all levels who back worker transition programs and progressive taxation on automation
• Attend town halls and ask specific questions about how your community will address job displacement
• Share your story on social media about economic insecurity or how UBI could help your family

This Month: Call your House representative and both senators. Ask them to co-sponsor legislation for UBI pilot programs.

2. Demand Ethical AI That Serves People

What We’re Building: AI systems that create shared prosperity instead of concentrating power.

Your Actions:

• Advocate for AI audits by supporting local ordinances requiring “well-being assessments” for AI systems used by government and major employers
• Push for worker protection by joining labor unions or worker advocacy groups fighting for retraining funds
• Support open-source AI by contacting your representatives about investing public research dollars in democratically controlled AI
• Educate yourself on AI policy through organizations like the AI Now Institute or Partnership on AI
• Organize at work to ensure your employer adopts ethical AI practices with worker input

This Month: Research which AI systems your city government uses and request transparency about their impact assessments.

3. Transform Learning in Your Community

What We’re Building: A culture where everyone can learn throughout their lives, following their passions and community needs.

Your Actions:

• Advocate for education funding that includes micro-credentialing and adult learning programs
• Volunteer as a mentor through existing programs or help start peer learning circles in your area
• Transform your local library by attending library board meetings and advocating for learning hub expansion
• Support career counseling that goes beyond traditional jobs to include creative, care, and civic work
• Create skill-sharing networks in your neighborhood through apps like Nextdoor or Facebook groups

This Month: Visit your local library and ask how you can help expand their learning and mentorship programs.

4. Elevate Care Work in Your Community

What We’re Building: A society that values and fairly compensates the essential work of caring for children, elders, and each other.

Your Actions:

• Advocate for care worker rights by supporting living wages and professional standards for caregivers
• Support family-friendly policies like paid family leave and universal childcare in your state
• Start or join a mutual aid network that provides childcare, elder support, or mental health resources
• Push for care infrastructure by advocating for neighborhood care centers in your city budget discussions
• Value care work by recognizing it in your own family and community, and supporting policies that do the same

This Month: Find out if your city has participatory budgeting and advocate for care infrastructure in the next cycle.

5. Strengthen Democracy Where You Live

What We’re Building: A democracy where every voice matters and citizens actively shape the decisions that affect their lives.

Your Actions:

• Push for participatory budgeting in your city — contact city council members and attend budget meetings
• Join or organize neighborhood councils, tenant associations, or community groups
• Advocate for ranked choice voting and other democratic reforms in your state
• Support civic education in schools and adult learning programs
• Use digital tools responsibly to engage in community decision-making and hold leaders accountable

This Month: Attend a city council meeting and speak during public comment about an issue you care about.

6. Become an Environmental Steward

What We’re Building: Communities where every person actively protects and restores the natural world.

Your Actions:

• Join conservation groups like your local land trust, watershed association, or environmental justice organization
• Advocate for green infrastructure in your community — parks, tree planting, community gardens
• Support regenerative agriculture by shopping at farmers markets and advocating for sustainable farming incentives
• Volunteer for habitat restoration projects in your area
• Push for green jobs programs that combine environmental restoration with economic opportunity

This Month: Sign up for a local environmental volunteer opportunity — habitat restoration, park cleanup, or community garden.

7. Build Bridges Across Differences

What We’re Building: Communities rich in cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and shared celebration.

Your Actions:

• Organize or support cultural festivals and interfaith gatherings in your community
• Learn about other cultures, traditions, and perspectives through books, documentaries, and conversations
• Support arts funding that brings diverse voices and experiences to your community
• Create spaces for difficult conversations about difference, inequality, and healing
• Volunteer with organizations serving immigrants, refugees, or marginalized communities

This Month: Attend a cultural event outside your usual experience and introduce yourself to someone new.

Your 90-Day Action Plan

Month 1: Get Informed and Connected

• Research UBI advocacy groups and AI policy organizations
• Attend one city council meeting
• Visit your library about learning programs
• Join one environmental volunteer opportunity

Month 2: Take Action

• Contact all your representatives about UBI pilots
• Speak at a public meeting about an issue you care about
• Start or join a skill-sharing group
• Organize a cultural exchange event

Month 3: Build for the Long Term

• Join ongoing advocacy campaigns
• Commit to regular civic participation
• Connect with others working on these issues
• Plan your next year of action

How to Stay Connected

Join the Movement:

• Follow organizations working on these issues
• Connect with neighbors who share these values
• Share your actions on social media to inspire others
• Hold regular “abundance circles” to discuss progress and next steps

Track Progress:

• Monitor local and state policy changes
• Celebrate wins and learn from setbacks
• Support candidates who champion these values
• Keep pressure on representatives between elections

The Bottom Line

The future isn’t something that happens to us — it’s something we create together. Every phone call to a representative, every community meeting attended, every neighbor helped, and every vote cast shapes the world we’re building.

The choice is clear: we can build an America where automation serves everyone, where every person’s basic needs are met, where learning and caring are valued, where democracy thrives, where we heal our planet, and where diverse communities flourish together.

The question isn’t whether this future is possible — it’s whether we’ll do the work to make it real. Start today. Your community needs you. America needs you. The future needs you.

Ready to begin? Pick one action from this guide and take it this week. Then pick another. The