of a society irrespective of their individual income levels or assets.

It has become increasingly apparent that modern technology will slowly erode the number of

jobs that are needed for our future society to function.

Take Uber for example.

They have already started trials in Pittsburgh using automated car technology, that is, cars

that don’t need drivers.

Uber have a profit motive not to have drivers.

Imagine how cheap a taxi would be if you didn’t have to pay a person to drive.

I predict that in the near future, say 5 to 10 years, there will be a tipping point where

paying for your own vehicle (registration, insurance, petrol, servicing) will be more

expensive than opting for an Uber service or similar.

For some people, it may even be cheaper now.

Think about it.

If more and more people start using services such as Uber exclusively, then those people

will not be paying registration, insurance etc.

Registration and insurance prices would probably rise for those who still own vehicles, causing

more people to opt out of car ownership.

A death spiral would ensue.

What happens to all those taxi drivers?

Well, they’ll either have to retrain, or be left without a job.

Fewer and fewer jobs will be available, so a growing number of people will be left jobless.

Certainly, we will need some form of universal basic income that will prevent people from

taking extreme measures to provide for their families (for example, committing crime).

As a society, we will need to forget the notion that it is bad not to work, or at least redefine

what work means.

If we allow people to stay at home and write a novel or program an app while receiving

a basic income, that benefits society.

They’re not out using drugs and stealing mobile phones.

If we force people to work a crappy, laborious, menial job (one that could easily be automated),

just so they can pay the rent, then that doesn’t really benefit anyone – except maybe the

rich landowner.

Let’s do away with our current idea of the 40 hour work-week.

It simply will not be possible for everyone in society to be working that much.

We should instead focus on using automation to provide for every citizen in society at

a minimal cost.

We should be designing machines that can print endless amounts of food, and organ transplants

that are virtually free.

During the transition period, a universal basic income will be needed, if only to stop

society descending into chaos.

Below is the link to Robert Reich on Universal Basic Income.