Maybe the question should be about what are the options to support ourselves and supply our needs in today's community.
In earlier times, this was accomplished by shared hunting, foraging, food raising and preserving. The community chose leaders and worked together for the benefit of the good of all, taking care of the vulnerable. Churches and other community organizations still continue to help those in need using volunteers. The recent tragedies displayed during hurricanes and shootings show that this community spirit is latent in mankind but comes to the visible foreground when needed.
Power structures changed all that and some became the serfs and some became the lords with power over the serfs, whether paid or not. Some serfs became badly abused, enslaved; but eventually some of the power lords started to give some authority and sense of shared responsibility to the serfs.
Self-interest ruled! What is in it for me in terms of $$$$$$. Now we have severe economic inequality. I see, on this site as well, those who have benefitted from the current power structure taking full credit for their success that was only possible due to the change in community/society's norms. I am as guilty of this as anyone else but I know it and feel strongly that I owe to the community so volunteer. Others want to maintain this power structure, the $$$$$ to be gained and control access to it.
As jobs change with the technological advances emerging, many will lose that power and scream about the injustice of it all. We are hearing about all the great jobs lost in steel mills, manufacturing, etc., increasingly replaced by robots to serve in self-interest $$$$ benefit to the shareholders and management. Few jobs are immune to this change. A friend was telling me that she was undergoing surgery to be performed by a specially-designed robot!
Not really sure how this will all work out though. Basically I am an optimist so we will see...
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Originally Posted by Alan
