> Western economies are based on consumption, not production.
Hence their present downfall.
> Machines do not pay taxes, making it harder and harder for the state to pay for the welfare of ageing populations.
Taxes are a relic of the long-gone physical money era. Vulgar taxation is a legacy technology that provides more waste than utility in the 21st century.
> Automation simply doesn't work for service-focused work.
Yes it does, increasingly over time. I just ordered my lunch through a virtual cafeteria cashier that was literally a human until a month ago. Someone still prepared it by hand by putting ~10 spoonfuls of different ingredients into a tortilla, but that is already being automated in more advanced societies.
Hence their present downfall.
> Machines do not pay taxes, making it harder and harder for the state to pay for the welfare of ageing populations.
Taxes are a relic of the long-gone physical money era. Vulgar taxation is a legacy technology that provides more waste than utility in the 21st century.
> Automation simply doesn't work for service-focused work.
Yes it does, increasingly over time. I just ordered my lunch through a virtual cafeteria cashier that was literally a human until a month ago. Someone still prepared it by hand by putting ~10 spoonfuls of different ingredients into a tortilla, but that is already being automated in more advanced societies.