Re: [Futurework] The world of work

[Charles Brass]

Thanks to those who replied to my post on the future of work.   I will comment separately on each reply.   Ray Harrell said, among other things:  Today, we do not have to work in order for society to survive except for the "idle hands" myth and the "Gold Star" for merit myth that actually gives away cash in order to keep the population happy.       This is actually not true.  It is true that most of us in the developed world do very little to directly ensure our survival (ie provide food etc) - we have become heavily dependent on an industrial infrastructure to do that for us (and no doubt enjoy a better lifestyle as a result).   However, there is still work which needs to be done.  In our ancestors days virtually all the work which needed to be done was directly related to the bottom level of Maslow's hierarchy.  We have liberated most of us from this, but there is still work which is needed to be done - or we will revert to the lifestyles of our ancestors.   Even Ray can't sing and write poetry if he is perpetually hungry.  And he can't inspire his students if they are all out catching tonight's dinner.   So, the nature of the work which needs to be done has changed (throughout history in fact - one Australian author - Jim Penman describes it as civilising) - but there is still more which needs to be done (needs in the literal sense of that word - needs or society can't function) than people to do it.   Hence, we do need to work.  Not just to keep us busy between hangovers but to make our world work.   Unfortunately, our 'job' systems simply haven't kept pace with the changing world of work and hence we don't have mechanisms for recognising, and exchanging, the value which is done in the work we do.       Charles Brass Chairman the futures foundation PO Box 122 Fairfield  3078 Australia phone 61 3 9459 0244   the mission of the futures foundation is "...to engage all Australians in creating a better future..."