Well, considering what most people in the 1st world consider 'work' actually most people in the 1st world do. I'd say that we wouldn't even have that 1st world

Well, considering what most people in the 1st world consider 'work' actually most people in the 1st world do. I'd say that we wouldn't even have that 1st world - 3rd world distinction any more - at least not for long - if most people in the 1st world finally stopped being lazy and actually thought about how to contribute meaningful work. Work for work's sake is what currently holds us back and absorbs more energy than anything else. The main objective of any mainstream economic policy is to achieve (near) full employment. Not because it makes sense economically but our twisted work ethic learned and internalized over hundreds of years tells us to.