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by marcinzm 1463 days ago
>nobody with money to consume the product.

Then tax production and just give people money (ie: Universal Basic Income). You're doing the exact same thing with pintless jobs anyway so may as well be less wasteful about it.

3 comments

It would be interesting to see what kind of caste system we would end up with if we did such a thing.
To a similar point, I think there's at least an argument to be made for an automation tax. But I also think that is politically unpalatable due to the potential impact on economic growth.
People derive self-worth, dignity and meaning from their jobs. How will you replace that?
They could join voluntary organisations.

Or they could voluntarily do any of the infinite number of jobs to do in the world which cannot and will never be automated, even though they don't really need the money.

Unless there's something special about being forced to work that boosts the dignity and self worth people feel?

People do things that give them self-worth, dignity and meaning even if they don't get paid to do them.

I mean that's pretty much the definition of a hobby.

There's an added value to being felt as necessary to one's society that a hobby may not capture. To the point of the commenter above, something like volunteer work would probably fulfill that need better than a hobby.
I guess that depends on the hobby - some are more solo pursuits but others are more social.