[ericb]

I once believed this was a danger, but have come to realize it doesn't need to be. As a thought experiment, all it takes is one infinitely scalable "job" to make the proposed jobless dystopia implausible. And it exists. Entrepreneurship. There is no limit to to the number of new companies that can be created. Some of them will even employ a few non-entrepreneurs.

As for societal tectonic shifts needed, we just need a safety net to make it safer to fail, and easier to try. Things like socialized healthcare, simplified accounting rules for small businesses, annual instead of quarterly filing requirments for small business, no corporate minimum tax (I'm looking at you massachusetts) can help make this work.

[johnjlocke]

I agree with you that entrepreneurship is a good answer, but it's not going to be right for everyone. Some people are not that brave, or in a position to try that. And they tried to get an adequate socialized healthcare system in place, And then Congress stamp their feet and cried, and now we have the bill that's coming now. Not the same bill that was proposed at the beginning, that the insurance companies shit a brick over.

[ericb]

I agree with you re:health care and our inept congress. In terms of entrepreneurship not being right for everyone, I agree. However, the thought experiment was oversimplified a bit.

There are human-required jobs that won't be infinitely scalable. Artist, masseuse, daycare provider, teacher, author, sales, marketer, circus performer, mover, software engineer, owner, landlord, nurse, doctor. The dystopian argument is usually that technology will require less of these jobs. It usually doesn't go as far as saying "none" and that is where the people who aren't cut out for entrepreneurship will land.