<
https://nerdsforhumanity.substack.com/p/the-vanishing-middle-scott-santens>
"When I first started interviewing Scott Santens years ago during the
Nerds
for Yang era, he was one of the most relentless and articulate advocates for
universal basic income (UBI) in America. Back then, it felt like the country
was on the verge of something big. Andrew Yang was on the debate stage making
“Freedom Dividend” a household phrase. Silicon Valley technologists were
whispering about automation in the same breath as moral responsibility. Even
Republican voters were entertaining the idea that direct cash transfers might
be less bureaucratic and more empowering than sprawling social programs.
Fast forward to 2025, and the conversation feels quieter. The pandemic-era
stimulus checks are long gone. Washington has reverted to tribal warfare.
Meanwhile, AI is advancing faster than anyone—maybe even Scott and
Andrew—predicted. The irony is thick: the very forces that made UBI seem like a
radical idea a decade ago are now transforming entire industries before our
eyes. And yet, the movement feels stuck in neutral.
So when Scott rejoined me on
Nerds for Humanity this month from his new base
in Washington, D.C., I wanted to know: What happened? Why did UBI lose its
moment? And is there a realistic path back to the mainstream before millions of
Americans get left behind?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
