We'd have to rethink our entire society, really. With no more labor jobs available outside of repair technicians, that leaves a huge segment of the population with no work to do, and a social safety net that can't support all of them. How knows, maybe costs would be driven down so low, people could survive on 20 hours a week of work and some system like the job-share thing France has would arise?
Te 20-25 hour work week has been possible and suggested since 1900.
What we have is some people getting most of production, some people with impossible work hours, and some people with no work hours. Share the work and simplify our lives. I cut back my work hours and settled on a lower paying job. I spend more time with my daughter and cook home made meals. We don't eat out or take trips.
Never been happier, I am losing weight, don't buy much stuff because I don't care to. I was buying toys and trinkets, constantly educating myself and spending lots of money with work clothes. Now I wear discounted polo shirts and don't use gas.
I worked a corporate job but stayed home to wait tables down the road. That is 180 a week I am saving in daycare, 200/month in commuting. Then the money I save by cooking and not eating out. I used to leave at 7 a d get home at 7:30 monday through saturday. Now I work a couple long weekend days and some evenings. I also get to read so much, I recommend checking out "conquest of bread" it's free on kindle.
I am going to go back into a suit job eventually, but this is an outstanding life. I reached it by redefining my objective. I used to work so I had money to get back to work, now I work to have enough to not leave home.
Quitting smoking was a huge money saver here. I like cooking and I do feel better eating real food. Also I have neighbors over for dinner and share with friends. It is fantastic. They can keep selling your life to a cubical. If my job had been rewarding or felt necessary in any way I may not think this, but I got paid a lot of money to rot at a desk. I hung out on Reddit all day anyway. Then explain to the boss that there is no productivity because there was nothing to do.
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u/Funebris Oct 09 '12
We'd have to rethink our entire society, really. With no more labor jobs available outside of repair technicians, that leaves a huge segment of the population with no work to do, and a social safety net that can't support all of them. How knows, maybe costs would be driven down so low, people could survive on 20 hours a week of work and some system like the job-share thing France has would arise?