In one world, the smart and industrious companies who are already working on automation and robotics succeed.

All transportation becomes autonomous. Workflow companies automate most of basic business and government administration. Even checkout clerks and fast food workers get automated.

In this world, the founders of these inventive companies become deca- or even centi-billionaire. That means Travis Kalanick, who is currently worth $6B as the CEO of Uber, ends up being worth $100B.

The investors in these inventive companies also become ultra-wealthy with the winning investors showing 1000x returns on their investments.

Each of these winning companies also employ a few hundred programmers and these programmers become extremely well off. They’re not quite wealthy, but they will pay cash for their children’s college tuition.

In addition, many millions of Americans no longer have to do their jobs. Or rather, capitalism would prefer that robots do these jobs instead. Robots are better and cheaper.

In one year, 3 million truck drivers are asked to stop. That’s followed by another 3 million fast food workers. In a single decade, automation replaces the jobs of 30 million people.

In this world, which we’ll call the status quo path, 30 million people are looking for new jobs.

To fill the demands of new job seekers, our country’s existing pathways for retraining are retooled and reinvented. Some of this improved training is provided by bigger government. The rest comes from corporations who are desperate to fill their job openings. Many of these jobs require relocation.

However, many of the newly unemployed don’t want to relocate and that forces a quick transition to something close to universal basic income. The first version of basic income passes easily — it’s just a reworking of current entitlements so that every adult is guaranteed $11,000 dollars cash just for being American.

The rest of America is relatively happy with this version of basic income because it doesn’t require any increase in taxes — it’s just a reworking of existing entitlements. That basic income combined with reduced costs of goods allows every American daily access to a hamburger and large soda. There’s a lot of desperation and anger, but at least most people aren’t starving.

In summary: the capitalism hustle continues.