The Changing Nature of Work

I think of Jerry Pournelle primarily as a writer of fiction. He has, however, some very congenial and well-expressed views on politics, the economy, and assorted other socio-political aspects which are well-worth reading. You can find them here on his daybook. (It seems to work like a blog.)

It was today's piece, which can be found here, that brought the subject up. (Again. I know I've recommended him before. I hope not too often.)

A sample:

My concern is over the effect of making a large part of our citizenry into redundant scrounges when they were formerly valued citizens believing themselves to be part of the middle class. Now they know better; but they still have the vote. And there is no lack of those who will organize discontent, and find someone to blame for the problems of people who believe in a fair day's work for a fair day's pay and who, through absolutely no fault of their own, find themselves dependent when they were once under the illusion that they were independent.


Very few in this country are more than a few paychecks from disaster. No one OWNS anything lucrative now. It's not as if you could cut back and run your candy store or dry good store or Mom and Pop grocery and eke out an existence in hard times building good will with your neighbors and doing a good bit of your business off the books. Those days are gone with Walmart and the government's use of computers and various forms of welfare. In California you can get, free, a wheelchair costing about $38,500, but only if you are a pauper.

There is more here. Do add him to your book marks.