Fearing Mass Job Loss, Working-Class US Voters Believe Government Must Act to Prevent Economic Disaster

[Brenda]

A poll commissioned by Working Families Power reveals deep anxiety among US workers about the impacts of artificial intelligence, as well as support for the government intervening to prevent potential mass unemployment.

The survey of just over 2,500 working-class American voters, conducted by Justice Research Group, finds that 73% said they were worried that AI would lead to job losses in the US, while 62% said they were concerned that AI would personally affect them or people close to them.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) earlier this year introduced a bill that would impose a nationwide moratorium on AI data center construction “until strong national safeguards are in place to protect workers, consumers, and communities, defend privacy and civil rights, and ensure these technologies do not harm our environment.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) last month proposed a tax on the use of AI to pay for jobs programs for affected workers.

Great news for the Dems. Hammer this for the midterms.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/ai-worker-anxiety-poll

[hookaleft]

1. Gavin Newsome too

Governor Newsom signs first-of-its-kind executive order to prepare workers and businesses for potential AI disruption

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order directing California to prepare workers, small businesses, and communities for the economic disruption that artificial intelligence will bring to the workforce. The order mobilizes state agencies, labor experts, economists, universities, and industry leaders to develop new policies, gather data, and identify early warning signs of workforce disruption — while ensuring workers share in the gains created by AI-driven productivity.

The order directs the state to explore policies including severance standards, employment insurance and transition support for displaced workers, worker ownership models, universal basic capital concepts, expanded workforce training, and stronger tracking of hiring and payroll trends to help California respond faster to potential layoffs and economic disruption. Read the executive order here.

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/05/21/governor-newsom-signs-first-of-its-kind-executive-order-to-prepare-workers-and-businesses-for-potential-ai-disruption/

I have watched him speak about this. Everyone needs to get onboard.

[Skittles]

2. *Newsom

thanks

[WSHazel]

3. AI will come someday

But these OpenAI and Anthropic LLM “businesses” are not going to be the tech companies to do it.

The LLM companies want us to repeat this fear mongering because it makes their hack tech and stupid business model seem real as they race for the public market to rip off retail investors like Musk did with SpaceX.