Once upon a time, everything was automated....

Many modern day philosophers have wondered what happens if technology could perform most necessary societal functions? I see a few immediate outcomes:

1. There won't be enough jobs 
2. There will be plenty of wealth 
3. The owners of the technological capital will have most of the wealth
4. Many will be poor OR if we share the massive wealth, many will have to re-evaluate life goals because working will no longer be required

The world I describe above may never come to pass, but we are approaching it in many ways.  The economic Great Divide has driven countries with efficiency and technology to extreme wealth while poor countries have less and less of an ability to compete and become poorer.  Several hundred years ago, if a country was resource-rich, the people were fairly well off.  Today, the efficiency and  technology of western nations is far more important to wealth than the gold and resources of African nations.

Within high-tech America, after-tax corporate profits were 1.7 trillion last year yet 15% of the population is below the poverty line.  Economists rightly predict if we give that 15% of the population free money they will be less incentivized to work.  And in our current paradigm, if nobody in your family is working, you're probably being a drain on society.

So how do we change the paradigm?  How do we use our incredible technology to improve the human existence instead of building consumables and business tools?  We have plenty of food, clothing, and shelter.  We have plenty of gadgets and toys.  We've been able to revolutionize communication with the internet and disrupt digital and real manufacturing with personalized cloud solutions and configurable robotics.  Yet we remain in the paradigm of work hard so you can play hard AKA, make money so you can spend money.

First we were hunters and gatherers
Then we were farmers and settlers
Then manufacturers and consumers
When will we be thinkers and creators?

We have all the resources and technology we need.  It's time to think.  Time to find a new reason to be.