The War on Normal People

Imagine standing at the edge of a vast ocean, watching a powerful wave approach—this wave is not water but a tidal force of change sweeping through the American workforce. We are witnessing the Great Displacement, a seismic shift where automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming the nature of work, rendering millions of jobs obsolete. Since the dawn of the 21st century, over four million manufacturing jobs have vanished in the United States, a loss driven predominantly by automation rather than outsourcing or globalization. Factories once bustling with workers now hum quietly with machines, robots tirelessly assembling products without fatigue or error. This transformation is not confined to factories alone; it ripples across sectors and states, threatening livelihoods and shaking the foundations of communities.

Consider the trucking industry, a backbone of the American economy and the most common occupation in 29 states. Between 2.2 and 3.1 million driving jobs face extinction in the coming decade as self-driving vehicles become reality. Autonomous trucks already traverse highways, promising increased safety and efficiency, but at a profound human cost. The ripple effect extends beyond drivers to the businesses and towns that depend on them. Labor force participation, a critical measure of economic health, has plummeted to 62.9%, a rate alarmingly low compared to peer industrialized nations. This means millions of prime working-age Americans have dropped out of the workforce entirely, not by choice but by circumstance.

What does this mean for the average American? The wave of automation does not discriminate by geography, race, or gender, but its impact is felt most acutely by those with fewer resources and less educational attainment. The promise of retraining and new job creation often rings hollow when the new roles require skills or degrees inaccessible to many displaced workers. As factories close and trucks drive themselves, the social fabric of entire regions frays, leading to despair, economic hardship, and a sense of abandonment.

Yet, amid this daunting reality, there is a call to action. Recognizing the wave is the first step to riding it rather than being crushed beneath it. Our society must confront this transformation head-on, rethinking how we value work, support displaced workers, and organize our economy for the future. This journey begins with understanding the forces at play, the scale of change, and the human stories behind the statistics. As we move forward, we will explore who these 'normal people' are, the jobs they hold, and the profound social changes unfolding alongside economic shifts.

Let us now turn to understanding who the 'normal people' are in this rapidly changing landscape and how their lives are shaped by these forces.