[p2p-research] Beyond Julian Simon; a meta failure of free markets as labor value declines

[Ryan Lanham]

On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Paul D. Fernhout <
pdfernhout at kurtz-fernhout.com> wrote:

> Summary:
>
> What if Julian Simon's idea of the human imagination as the ultimate
> resource gets applied directly to reducing the cost (and value) of most
> human labor, instead of just to reducing the cost of goods? Like through
> robotics and better design? And what if the human imagination gets applied
> to reducing the cost (and value) of imagination itself through AI? What are
> the consequences for an economy built around an ideology of scarcity, where
> the only right to consume comes for the value of most people's labor?
>
> It never ceases to amaze me how people can be thinking about the same
things simultaneously but in completely different ways.  I am gearing up to
start a blog on what I call the "New Workforce Development."  In that world,
I view the dignity of individuals to be tied, in part, to their
productivity, as I do my own.

I realize that is not a fundamental human view, but it's not uncommon
amongst reasonable people in my world.  My life isn't my work, but my work
is meaningful in part because I matter.  I think many people want to
matter.  In fact, I'd argue that mattering is more important than money form
most--given basic necessities being met.

The value of my labor is never external.  Never has been.  It has always
been a combination of external and internal.  Quite honestly I have had
ideas worth many millions of dollars--and they're not my best.  So how would
I value my own imagination?  To me it is intrinsically related to
mattering.  Without that, I am depressive and minimally productive.  When I
can do something that has a positive impact on others, I am energized and
focused.

There's something wrong with our views of labor.  It is far more complex
than a simple transactional process of getting bread and computer chips.

Talking about my "surplus" makes me very low.  I don't have a "surplus."  I
have talents and I use them.  Somehow we need to admit that not all horses
pull the same plows and some horses glory in a plow and others in a race
track.
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