[chii]

> all the employees who produced the perfectly automated factory to negotiate for a share of the profits.

if they were employees, they would've been paid compensation for making such automation. Unless they are a shareholder (either by investing initial capital, or by negotiated compensation in the form of equity), they are absolutely not entitled to any profit from their output.

[GavinMcG]

That's the water we swim in, but can you actually make an argument for why things should be that way?

We allow infinite returns to "shareholders" long after their risk has been reasonably rewarded. Why should we?

[chii]

> can you actually make an argument for why things should be that way?

yes - because it didn't work any other way. Look at how communism fared? Tell me a way to incentivize people to invest their capital any other way?

[GavinMcG]

You're saying the possibility of unlimited returns from others' labor is the only incentive people have to invest capital?