Corporations exist mostly because of consumerism, though. Once those "humans" are not able to work and in turn, spend their money buying crap from corporations, then...?
In any case, government-assisted income might not be in the interests of larger corporations, because they're essentially the ones paying for it. But I don't know. Perhaps at some point all this consolidation will begin to reverse. If the tools to manufacture goods became accessible to cities, and then smaller communities, and eventually individuals (I.e. fabrication at home), coupled with the service industry largely being replaced by robotics, then this could solve many of these issues.
In fact, it would seem that things like home fabrication become more capable as robotics become more advanced and inexpensive. So maybe workforce consolidation will directly lead to this.
Not just the corporation, but the owners. It's not as if employees and executives are blind to long-term thinking, but the higher up you are, the more dependent your salary and bonus is on your earnings report, and if the numbers don't satisfy the Street, they can kick you out.
The problem is that self-interested thinking doesn't often benefit the whole. Every corporation is in the right for cutting costs, reducing tax burden, and getting as much profit as possible (and keeping it!). Without a strong government to form and enforce public policy, the private sector creatively destroys itself and society every few decades, while the rich keep their cash.
Some on HN the other day speculated that the fiercely autocratic Asian governments are the only way to reign in the power of major corporations. I think there is a point to that.
I think we have lost touch with the reason we invented technology in the first place: which was to increase human productivity, not to remove the human from the equation altogether.
In fact, it would seem that things like home fabrication become more capable as robotics become more advanced and inexpensive. So maybe workforce consolidation will directly lead to this.
Or, more likely, this is just wishful thinking.