Ron: As usual, this letter is unlikely to be published in full, if at all.

Letters Editor,

Simon Cowan, ‘Now is the time to go to bat for market forces’ CT
21/11/20 p 33, says most jobs are lost to automation creating
‘ability to manufacture far more than we used to, at a lower price,
thanks to …productivity gains’

And: ‘wage growth leading into the recession was at near record lows,
despite a 28-year run of uninterrupted economic growth.’

Strangely he concludes:
‘stimulating and maintaining productivity growth are the only things
that will boost wages’.

WHY?

WHY this mania for productivity growth that hasn’t created wages
growth sufficient for millennials to get real jobs or afford to buy a
home and raise a family? Who benefits?

We live on a finite planet; increasing “production” indefinitely is impossible.

Much “production” is 'junk', creating increasing garbage disposal
problems. That doesn’t increase welfare.

Similarly, producing armaments doesn’t benefit anyone. Such
“productivity” should be channeled into life-enrichment. Why isn’t it?

Artificial intelligence and robotics already ensure adequate
productivity. So, ‘WHY hasn’t increased productivity improved the
environment and human quality of life?’

Life is for people not corporations and profits.
Increased quality of life NOT ‘productivity’ is needed.
That requires decentralised living, working, production and governance
arrangements.

Humanity has Open-sourced blueprints for civilization -
https://www.ted.com/talks/marcin_jakubowski_open_sourced_blueprints_for_civilization/transcript?language=en#t-229247

http://abundanthope.net/pages/Environment_Science_69/Makerspaces-More-Than-a-Fad.shtml

We can live and work anywhere self-sufficiently, not depending on
globalisation and MEGA corporations. We don’t have to squash into
cities and commute to work for lifeless corporations.

Localised communities can co-produce  food,  machines, clothing and
most other needs.

This should have happened long ago -
http://abundanthope.net/pages/True_US_History_108/Will_Life_Be_Worth_Living_in_2_000_AD_-_Weekend_Ma_2692.shtml

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