Whatever our discussions on automation lead to, I hope we can consider the fragility angle. I'm with you on #1, but it seems to me that automation encourages t

Whatever our discussions on automation lead to, I hope we can consider the fragility angle. I'm with you on #1, but it seems to me that automation encourages too much dependency on the technology because of human nature. If there was some catastrophe and the populace was deprived of technology, I fear that most would be utterly helpless and endangered. I understand that the best person to take charge of the average individual is themselves, and ultimately one's continued survival is their responsibility. That said, life is pretty sublime for most people where I live and most of the time all needs are met - so survival ranks low on the priorities list. Perhaps the responsible thing to do would be to make it a part of a standard education to teach low-tech survival skills. Boy Scouts was the closest thing I had to this kind of training as a kid, and I still hang on to my boy scout manual if I need knowledge in an emergency. I try to buy food and manufactured goods made at the local level wherever possible to increase the chances that essentials can be provided if my area were to ever be cutoff from outside support for a long period.