Need to address real problems

[lerner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sally Lerner)]

It has been an education to learn what progressive economists think and
talk about (on e-mail, at least!).  I would be very interested to see the
same intelligence turned to the question of how North America (probably all
industrialized countries) are going to deal with increasing "jobless
growth", which can translate into R. Reich's vision of a world where a
small (probably international) minority owns and controls everything,
leading to a 'Blade Runner' future.

What alternative futures might we design that would include a decent level
of guaranteed income (as a form of  return on our long-term social
investment in health, education), R&D, law and order, and infrastructure,
sharing of paid work, maximum income limits, and a richer life in terms of
the variety of activities in which people could engage.  This needn't be
pie in the sky, but the attention of progrssive economists is needed.


Sally Lerner, Futurework Project,Centre for Society, Technology and Values