And raging pencil, I found most academics (scientists, engineers, etc) do it purely for the thirst for knowledge, agreed, not the quest for money. Unfortunately they need funding, their work can only be done at a cost, most all research is sponsored by big business who ultimately expect a reward for their investments... (see the pharma industry). The days of the home alchemist or wheel inventing caveman are over, with some rare exceptions. Also, you seem to get the impression that a manual workforce is disappearing, where do you get that information from when any developed country is crying out for people who can actually DO things, engineers, doctors, chemists, computer programmers etc etc. Having any of those sorts of skills is half the ticket to getting citizenship in the UK, the US, Australia, and those are only 3 I personally know about. Thats what is happening as technology and civilisation advances (?), ok we dont need s
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RagingPencil (White Giant)
All worlds
I agree labour is still in demand. But as you know, 6 billion people in 1999 and now 7 billion by the end of october. Thats a huge increase in just over a decade.
Do you really expect the labour market to continue to grow in future years?
Our labour based market is holding back automation for obvious reasons and I honestly don't see another booming labour industry where humans can't be replaced.
Look at the car manufacturing business. Mostly done my robots now with only supervisors monitoring. It wasn't that long ago when it was 100% human labour.
It's hard to grasp but being replaced doesn't have to be a bad thing like the scifi movies. It could make our lives far better dispite our seemingly built-in drive to work and earn money.
Remove money completely? Let the thinkers and scientists find cures for our problems, build new technology etc for purely this 'thurst for knowledge' as you
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Crafty (Little Upsilon)
All worlds
Maybe the world needs to raise its education index
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Maestro2000 (White Giant)
All worlds
The US will just print more money. No need to go bankrupt....
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RagingPencil (White Giant)
All worlds
Only problem is it doesn't solve the monetary system problems and will only delay it and make it worse in the future. Oh and not to mention that the dollar will drop in value but a completely ridiculous amount. Which Im sure you wouldnt want.

Really, Pencil? Please expound. Lest you all forget, taxes can be raised too, they don't only go down.
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Crafty (Kebir Blue)
All worlds
I thought the danger of quantative easing was inflation LG. I dont see how taxes compensate for that, but then I have a poor grasp of economics.