NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/alt/support/1247

Internet Message Format | 1992-08-21 | 1.9 KB

Xref: sparky alt.support:1247 misc.jobs.misc:6044
Newsgroups: alt.support,misc.jobs.misc
Path: sparky!uunet!decwrl!csus.edu!netcom.com!ort
From: [e-mail] (David Oertel)
Subject: Re: life and work
Message-ID: <wh+n-=[e-mail]>
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 09:16:49 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)
Summary: Re: life and work
References: <[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Lines: 31




Gary Murphy writes:

    More nonsense.  Here's an exercise for you, and since you have the time,
    I hope you will try it.  At your next meal, before you begin eating,
    consider 20 people who's labours have made that meal possible.  You need

I think that your posting misses the original point because very few people
labor to meet basic human needs.  For example, our greatest export by dollar
value is still advanced weapon systems.  Granted, it's important for great
statesmen and subtle political thinkers such as King Faud and the Emir of
Kuwait, to have the means to champion freedom and justice, however, these
pursuits fail the basic-human-needs test.  National Public Radio recently
interviewed someone who has written a book which calculates the
proportion of the economy that is 'essential'.  I don't remember what the
metrics were, but the result was something less than 10%.  My theory, for
what its worth, is that there once was a time when it was necessary to work
a lot, like during World War 2.  There seems to be an inertia effect that
keeps society from figuring out that it's no longer necessary, and that
it's time for us pursue our own interests.  If someone can figure out how
to steer society in this more reasonable direction, maybe they can spread
the word that information workers no longer need to make this ridiculous
effort to assemble in one geographical location every day like manufacturing
workers had to.

    Dave Oertel,
    [e-mail]

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