Letter to the editor: Universal basic income a beacon of hope

As I grapple with UPS’s astounding $200 billion gross profit over the last three years, my heart aches for the human cost. The wave of automation sweeping through UPS and beyond threatens the livelihoods of hard-working individuals across industries.

Facts and figures paint a dire picture: 1 in 6 American jobs will vanish over three years, and 7 out of 10 by 2030. Truck drivers, industrial workers, even management — no one is immune. Yet, amid corporate gains, the average worker is left behind while the top 1% flourishes.

The disparity is staggering, evoking a profound sense of loss and injustice. Trickle-down economics isn’t happening; it’s time for radical solutions. Universal basic income emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a lifeline to those displaced by progress.

But behind every statistic lies a human story — a family struggling to make ends meet, a community grappling with uncertainty. Our empathy must drive action, demanding a future where every American can put food on the table.

With a heavy heart and unwavering resolve,

William Werts Jr.

Greensburg