Or maybe give people time to live before they decide to participate in "the economy". Not everything is jobs. Actually I would argue that hiring is, or should be soon, obsolete because of a gradual change on mindset that clarifies what jobs really are, schemes. There's no reason to dedicate most of your waking life working on selling products where the end product is just maintaining frivolous life styles. And if having to pay for basic things like a roof and food is the factor here, then there are bigger issues at the root level.
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How does the labor to build the basic things like a roof happen? How does the labor to grow food and get it to you happen? Those are called jobs, and like it or not somebody has to do them. Society has been getting more efficient at them, but even still some amount of human labor is required!
People have jobs because they need things that can only be got via human labor. This is not a bigger issue at a root level, it is a basic fact that you are trying to deny.
If you think hundreds or thousands (or maybe even decades) into the future, it's pretty clear that it should be entirely possible to fully automate everything required for basic human needs. Obviously there will be some human labor required to build it, and probably some discouraging speed bumps along the way, but just because it does not exist in our present time doesn't mean it's impossible.
I dream of a future where everyone has all of their basic needs met through technology, giving people the capacity to focus on doing the things they are naturally good at doing, things they enjoy, all on their on free time with their own free will. If you think about it, technology is nothing more than the rearrangement of resources to create tools which make our lives easier. Progression of technology is just a matter of how much better we get at creating these tools, and we are getting better and better and we will never stop. We will eventually have tools that make it effortless to satisfy all basic human needs. Automation is inevitable.
You are right that people will always have jobs, but the jobs that people have will also always change.
The overwhelming majority of jobs in the modern economy have nothing to do with basic needs. Most of them simply exist to feed the consumerist/financial complex.
The overwhelming majority of people want more than the basics. They don't just want a roof over their head, they want a nice roof - one they can stand up under, maybe with a kitchen, running water, separate rooms for their various games... They don't want to eat just rice and beans, they want more.
You are one of them: if you were not you wouldn't be reading this forum.
All of the things you mentioned can still be categorized as "the basics."
This forum is a particularly bad example to use, considering that it's more-or-less built on technology that is over two decades old (i.e. an online forum.)
What are the basics. Every time you expand the definition - as you just did - it takes more labor time to make it. You can put the line between basics and luxury anyplace you want, but the amount of labor it takes to make basic society possible goes changes with each change.
I agree with you. There's almost never a free meal, nor a reason why there should be. I still think a lot of jobs today are unimportant and exist due to people's lack of options.
I also agree with loh's comment here: "I dream of a future where everyone has all of their basic needs met through technology, giving people the capacity to focus on doing the things they are naturally good at doing, things they enjoy"
It would seem that the current system in place is what's required to get there, but maybe it's just slow to change for good.
That's a different issue.
But consumerism is needed to provide something of value back to those that gave their time to get you food and a roof.
Food and roofs didn't exist prior to 20th-century marketing and consumer-targeting psychology?
before 20th century marketing woman would spend the whole day preparing food. And you couldn't really have a decent way of owning a home.
Do not overly disregard material conditions.
To me, working is just the way you participate in society and civilization.
All the fantastic gifts and riches in a modern economy you enjoy were made by Someone. You need to participate in and support the system by also making things for others.
> Not everything is jobs
Of course not. But it's something, and it's important!
> And if having to pay for basic things like a roof and food is the factor here, then there are bigger issues at the root level.
It is the main factor for the vast majority of people. Anectada: I cannot nor could ever afford to 'live before participating in economy' - I needed place to stay, food to eat and some extra money to not feel like a bum. It takes wealth to enjoy life.
Don't understand why you're being downvoted. Surviving and thriving in the world requires lots of material goods. These goods are produced by the economy so of course you have to participate in it in order to live. A world where people don't have to participate in the economy would have no goods.
To a certain extent i agree with your statement. But if young people dont’ explore and develop skills early then they will lose later in life. Instead of “living” they should probably explore wether art or tech or construction or whatever is more suitable for them personally. Then once they have a career they cam travel and live as they have the skills to support that life. If you look at instagram then you will see how many live their lives and have no skill then they complain about why they camt pay bills.
There are few guarantees the skills you develop today will mean much to the market by the time you can afford to do any living.
Ten years ago learning to drive a truck meant a long-term stable career, even if it's not the most glamourous. Today, we're discussing the short-term viability of automating that shipping system. Five years ago in Alberta, getting into a trade that was in demand in the oil industry meant a lifetime career with a pretty great salary. Today, the industry is on shaky footing and many will have to retrain.
In software, while it might not be near or certain, there are plenty of discussions about automating most projects since so many of them conform to common patterns and publicly accessible, free code already existing. We don't know any better how large much of the software development industry will be in ten years time. Many of those skills might be as obsolete as some IG "celebrity".
I think OP is at least correct in that you sort of have to weigh these things yourself. Sometimes that life experience in other facets will inform your future more than picking up a skill that is just enough to put you into someone else's employ. It's pretty difficult to know. You can apply any kind of probability measure you want, but the gaps in between any sound reason are just attempting to know the future before it happens.
That is partially correct. Developing the skill to drive a truck at an early age gives you the skills to operate vehicles at a later stage, and that is transferrable knowledge. Not to mention work place interaction skills, and time management. In terms of software, indeed repetitive tasks can be automated, but 100% of development never will be.