The problem is purpose not just employment, especially as AI and innovation increase productivity and decrease the need for human input. A relatively abundant gift of money in addition to whatever employment is available in the private sector AND the option of a job guarantee is the answer to an inherently austere system. When you understand that you stop unconsciously helping man to be made for systems instead of making them FOR Man. The purpose (and trick) in Life is the cultivation of graciousness which is a two way gift, and whatever other constructive purposes one self determinedly desires to keep their attention focused on the present moment. Economic theories should mirror this philosophy with their policies.

BJ:  Basic Income is a consumption scheme originating in free market fundamentalism; the notion that freedom (the only freedom deserved by the poor, anyway) consists of choosing between Colgate and Crest. The scheme will primarily increase corporate profits, encourage additional environmental degradation, and further cement growing domestic income inequality while doing nothing to improve social well-being.

I’d suggest these failures are why BIG proponents like it but the hyper-individualist left is so incoherent in their thinking I doubt they could come up with such a plan.

Me:  @BJ

I’m sorry, but IMO that is a very biased point of view. The real problem is economists and intellectuals in general need to “wake up and die right” ….by living in present time where the transformative realities spoken and written about by history’s sages are real….and all of the fragmented, orthodoxy ridden idiocies of both religion and science are exposed as just that….idiocies.

Systems do not have a mind or consciousness. They require policies that reflect the deep and transformative aspects that mind/consciousness have, to guide them instead of being based on mere profit, power and control …or mere reactionary or unconscious acceptance of orthodoxy about them.

Let us bring consciousness to economics and all of our systems. So that we can come into a new unit of time and stop being reactionaries on the left and the right.