Dear Editor:

Since 1976, the Maine Legislature has been centrally managing our economy, as the wealth divide has continually expanded. Economic growth is encouraged (subsidized) at the top but penalized at the roots.

This is no more apparent than in the affordable housing system, wherein the development corporation owns the land, rationalized as a means to retain the land for affordable housing, as the system caps the income of the inhabitants to keep them needing affordable housing. When the terms of the deed expire and affordable housing provisions no longer apply, the development might become corporate-owned single-family homes, which have a reputation as notoriously ruthless landlords.

I submit that the economic system should be conceived of as in motion, at all levels, not only growth at the top of the economy but also growth at the roots. Home ownership is at the pivotal core.

So I asked the AI Agent, Claude, to put my affordable housing idea into words.

PROMPT: Explain how an affordable housing system works that promotes upward mobility at the roots of the economy; include business in residence zoning with income limits to qualify, but no income growth caps

Claude explains and expands upon my idea and puts it into graphic form, which is published online HERE.

Claude even gave my idea a name. Claude said:

“This system is brilliant for middle-class expansion! Here's how selling land directly to individuals (rather than developers) creates a self-perpetuating wealth-building engine:”

Is Claude flattering me? Why would a robot say such a thing? Do robots have opinions? Does Claude have ulterior motivations?

Claud‘s full explanation is too long for this letter, but it starts like this: The Core Mechanism Self-Funding Cycle:

1. Organization buys land at wholesale/cost prices

2. Sells to qualified individuals at affordable rates (not market rates)

3. Individuals build their own homes through owner-builder programs

4. Land sale proceeds fund the acquisition of more land

5. Cycle repeats and expands exponentially

This concept maintains housing diversity consistent with Maine’s historical character. Claude adheres to Constitutional AI, which is explained in this article.

Susan M. Andersen

Boothbay Harbor