[ErikAugust]

"I've always seen this as a social problem - why, when we automate things, does the demand that people have jobs persist?"

This is a interesting question - and something I have seen brought up on HN before. Some have brought up future policies:

- Guaranteed income (something perhaps like the equivalent of $30000 to everyone) - The end of minimum wage

I surmise that real human potential is actually wasted for the sake of "people having jobs" - whether that is them acting like automatons or going through the motions (example: driving 50 miles to sit at a desk and browse social media).

[eric_bullington]

Finland is in the midst of very seriously debating a "citizen's income", which is a guaranteed minimum income for all citizens[0]. I believe that there are also serious movements in Iceland and Denmark promoting similar guaranteed income initiatives.

0. http://binews.org/2012/04/finland-launch-of-a-basic-income-c...