>As we continue to automate things, we reduce the time and effort required to manufacture the things we need. This creates an immense amount of leisure time.
The first sentence has been very true as we progress with technology and the economy, etc. The second has not followed and there is no reason to believe it will. Less time and less effort will be required to produce, but that will not translate to leisure time for the underclass (it never has -- benefits go to the people who have the power to decide where the benefits go tautologically, i.e. capitalists), it will translate to more profit for the overclass.
So long as wealth inequality continues to get worse and we dive wholeheartedly into capitalism progress will just mean centralization of wealth and a stratification of the overlords and the peasantry who work until they drop being paid nothing for someone else's profit.
Embracing socialism a little more will help, and failing that the wealthy may realize living surrounded by unwashed hungry angry violent masses is unpleasant and set up some kind of charity for those who behave according to their wishes.
The first sentence has been very true as we progress with technology and the economy, etc. The second has not followed and there is no reason to believe it will. Less time and less effort will be required to produce, but that will not translate to leisure time for the underclass (it never has -- benefits go to the people who have the power to decide where the benefits go tautologically, i.e. capitalists), it will translate to more profit for the overclass.
So long as wealth inequality continues to get worse and we dive wholeheartedly into capitalism progress will just mean centralization of wealth and a stratification of the overlords and the peasantry who work until they drop being paid nothing for someone else's profit.
Embracing socialism a little more will help, and failing that the wealthy may realize living surrounded by unwashed hungry angry violent masses is unpleasant and set up some kind of charity for those who behave according to their wishes.