You bring up some very good points. I certainly don't have any solutions, but there are things we have to consider as reality. The population of the planet is growing, while technology is continually making the need for laborers less and less relevant. People just aren't needed to do the tasks that it takes to feed and clothe them anymore, even though they are expected to do work that doesn't exist in order to consume the products that don't need them to be produced anymore. Convoluted? You bet. It's why we are seeing an explosion in virtual worlds and economies. How many tech millionaires actually produced something of value commensurate with how they have been rewarded? The vast minority... they just happened to be among the first to the gold rush.

We will have to pay people to do nothing... or provide for them in some way, as there are far more people than things that need to be done. How do we do this fairly and effectively and humanely? Your guess is as good as mine. Ambitious and creative people will always rise above, if given half a chance. The rest... well... making pot legal in many states will go a long way towards making them docile and compliant. Think that's cold? Yup. It is.