Forum Post: The Jobs Crisis and the Future

You've probably heard the latest jobs report this month. Republicans are quick to fault Obama (its good news to them!), but should we, perhaps, be directing our attention to other possible causes? Take a look at http://www.foet.org/books/end-work.html and at http://www.thelightsinthetunnel.com/excerpt.htm. Both of these books challenge conventional wisdom about the future and how to plan for it. Unfortunately, like the mighty ostrich, most seem to have their heads in the sand regarding such possibilities. If what such publications say are true, however, then humanity is going to need to start entertaining notions of a radically different kind of economic system than the one we have now, in order for everyone to survive in a possible post-labor, post income world. Rifkin, for one, is strong on suggestions, as are others like Marshall Brain at http://marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm