So. Other than a stupid thread about Halloween that no one read (which is fair enough) I’ve never tried to start a conversation here before. Apologies in advance for any grotesque protocol errors that I might (read: definitely will) make.
And, for all the old hands out there — you glorious women whose wisdom and kindness (offered on behalf of people more willing to post things (that I subsequently read) than I was — please know that you saw me through years of infertility, an infant, and now, a toddler. And that I am grateful for all of your insights and advice.
All that to say: first: thank you. And second: that I’m a (passionate) lurker, not a journalist. So though you don’t know my username, I have relied on you for years, and as a result of those years, feel myself part of this community, though I have little to recommend me.
Because of my experiences here, I have come to rely on this community for sensible input on (sometimes) challenging questions.
So (appallingly wordy) preamble sorted, here’s mine:
There is a lot of talk about automation and miscellaneous other technological innovations replacing a huge raft of jobs over the coming years.
Given that, a number of people have suggested that a guaranteed minimum income (that is to say, governments paying out citizens a fixed amount per year) might be one way to mitigate the impact of the job losses that will occur as a result.
On balance, I think that we might need something of the sort. That we WILL need something of that sort.
I mean: one thing (which can be problematic enough in and of itself) to tell people that if they lose their jobs they ought to search for new ones. Quite another to destroy entire categories of work, meaning that there are no new jobs for people in those sectors to get, try as they might — and then to suggest that they pull themselves together and find new work.
However: even now, it seems to me that if we are fortunate enough to be able to cover our expenses, (which, it must be stated, is already quite something) that “work”, and the meaning we derive from it, is often about more than just the money coming in.
Yes: bills need to be paid. No two ways about that. Nor is that anything to be made light of.
But, even in a context in which one is working to make ends meet, are there other things that work provides that are beyond money?
Getting out of the house, meeting like minded people, feeling part of a community, feeling productive, feeling as though one is engaged with the world — there are, it seems to me, a number of things that need to be considered as well.
Things that provide meaning that is beyond money.
But I may be wrong. Or, at the very least, not entirely correct. Which is only right and proper given that I have only my own experience to work with. (No appalling pun intended)
So, simply put (because I’m wordy by nature and that’s not helped by the wine I’m (joyously) drinking now that my toddler is in bed): even with a fixed, guaranteed income — say, an income that matches or is close to what you’re earning now, would you be happier, or better off — or at least as happy and well off (however you measure that) — as you are now?
Is there anything, beyond salary, that makes the work you do worth doing?
Would you be happy with just receiving a check each month? And if not, why not?