So, the current hang-up on the idea of post-scarcity is that if anyone has to work for it, it's not really post-scarce, right? Fine, whatever, but what are thoughts on the following that I posted shortly before the conversation jumped threads?
The focus on automation as a requirement for post-scarcity is ridiculous. We don't need to automate everything. It isn't a requirement that nobody has to work. This is because a majority of people actually like working, and there are even enough people who enjoy doing jobs normally seen as undesirable to get those done if infrastructure is focused on simply getting the job done without loads of extraneous bullshit.
But our perspective is all fucked up. Our infrastructure is designed to create unnecessary work. While it is an elite class capitalist imperative to eliminate work and reduce costs, it's also a political imperative to create work. There is severe and deliberate obstruction by workers to prevent progress that eliminates work, because they need it. And the nature of capitalist relationships creates shitloads of extraneous bureaucracy. So most people don't see just how much better we're currently capable of. All the business world and customer service bullshit associated with operating for profit easily makes up 3/4 of the workload associated with what I do for a living. And the demands on workers are so high because of extraneous bullshit that most cannot conceive of having the will to do anything productive with their free time, leading to the misconception that human beings are naturally lazy.
So automation isn't prerequisite, because there are more than enough people who will still want to work to produce the essential needs of society, whether in pursuit of extra luxuries or because they just want to.
My concept of post-scarcity is where no one is forced to work to meet their basic needs. Any work beyond that, I honestly see as recreational. I know that when I have the time and energy to do so, I enjoy doing things that I know will benefit me in the end, and that I do completely optionally, under no duress. And it wouldn't have to directly benefit me, like a building project on my own house or something. I honestly enjoyed working as a package handler at Fedex, throwing boxes around. If I had the time, the energy, and the option, I would absolutely go back and do that voluntarily once in a while. Especially if it meant earning some extra luxury for myself.
So if we drop the discussion of strict post-scarcity or loosen the definition, how do everyone's thoughts change?
Disclaimer: I expect to be heavily ninja'd, since I typed up half this post, got called away by family for a couple hours, and then came back and quickly finished it. :/