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.