[brc]

I disagree entirely, for two reasons: 1) Working is all about becoming a part of society, of contributing, of belonging. Few people can take a prolonged period of not contributing without some level of depression.

2) The overall quality of life of people is determined by the application of time and labor saving devices, as well as by technical enhancements to lifestyle and health. There is no higher improvement of quality of life than low infant mortality and longer lifespans. All of these things are delivered by a society that embraces specialisation as a way of increasing productivity by everyone.

Sure, you'll get no argument from me that pointless consumerism backed up by debt-based spending is not the path forwards, but that is an entirely different proposition to stopping working altogether. Only the committed hobo will get satisfaction from a life like that.

[philwelch]

> There is no higher improvement of quality of life than low infant mortality and longer lifespans.

Really? You'd trade off absolutely anything to increase those metrics?

[brc]

Obviously these are things that are harder to improve in a Western society, so the big gains are in developed countries. My original comment was probably slipping towards rhetoric-ville, but the point still stands - maximising the chance your child will make it's 5th birthday and that you and your family will live as long as possible definitely trumps most things.