> My notion of the "work that needs to be done" is in no way limited to what current job openings exist.
while in theory this is true, the fact is that the other kind of jobs you referred to (the research positions, etc) are jobs that do not produce results quickly(nor is guarenteed to produce results). And yet, those who work in these jobs needs to be fed, clothed etc. So who provides these resources to keep these people alive while they perform non-productive, exploratory jobs? Basic income _may_, but that just shifts the cost to the entity giving the basic income, instead of the investor who take the risk and profit from the outcome of the research/exploratory work.
The bottom line is, there isn't enough free resources out there to support such endeavours, as much as i like it to be true. Who wouldn't want to have the freedom to do what their passion tells them, be it artistry, scientific research, or social work. But reality is harsh, and the reality is that such people are not needed as much as they think they are.
while in theory this is true, the fact is that the other kind of jobs you referred to (the research positions, etc) are jobs that do not produce results quickly(nor is guarenteed to produce results). And yet, those who work in these jobs needs to be fed, clothed etc. So who provides these resources to keep these people alive while they perform non-productive, exploratory jobs? Basic income _may_, but that just shifts the cost to the entity giving the basic income, instead of the investor who take the risk and profit from the outcome of the research/exploratory work.
The bottom line is, there isn't enough free resources out there to support such endeavours, as much as i like it to be true. Who wouldn't want to have the freedom to do what their passion tells them, be it artistry, scientific research, or social work. But reality is harsh, and the reality is that such people are not needed as much as they think they are.