Meme 'Permanent Underclass' Shapes Silicon Valley

A viral phrase that began as internet shorthand is becoming a coordinating frame inside tech circles, shaping how entrepreneurs, investors, and journalists talk about automation, philanthropy, and policy. That transformation turns a catchy slogan into a policy‑relevant narrative that influences hiring, R&D priorities, and public messaging. — If memes can become policy frames, tracking their ascent matters because cultural tropes can precondition regulatory and corporate responses to AI and labor change.