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But what does "having a valuable place in society" have to do with not contributing economic value? I don't quite understand you.

• gaius 18y ago
  If someone's work is worth 100 units/time period but society spends 200 u/t to make them feel good about themselves, then that's a net loss. And this isn't just an academic point; a society that eats itself from inside like this can't last and will be replaced by something considerably less warm and fluffy.
  • unalone 18y ago
    You're assuming that by providing a "place in society" society is indeed trying to pull the wool over citizens' eyes. I think it's possible for a society to legitimately find good places for everybody to work without it being haberdashery. Just automate all of the pointless, frivolous tasks, and find more meaningful jobs for everybody.
    • gaius 18y ago
      The post I was replying to made the point that unskilled jobs should not be automated, but given to the "less able" to make them feel good about themselves.