Abolition and Escape

“More jobs” is what protesters always ask for. And later, “Better jobs”. Quantity and then quality.

Nobody seems to want to get rid of jobs. Abolish work, I say.

Bob Black is always worth revisiting:

“Liberals say we should end employment discrimination. I say we should end employment. Conservatives support right-to-work laws. […] I support the right to be lazy. Leftists favor full employment. Like the surrealists — except that I’m not kidding — I favor full unemployment.”

We struggle to see past employment because we have evolved in a world in which work is the main culture. Even art is seen through paradigms of work.

We’ve forgotten that “job” is a euphemism for “income”, itself only representative of personal dignity, societal order, and quality of life. We’re two logical steps removed from the actual things that matter.

We are like pigeons pecking at a button that releases corn. We’ve learned that certain actions lead to certain results. Phwoar, that button. Can’t get enough of that button. But can we have those results without those actions? Can we escape?

Escape! New Escapologist looks at the possibilities. Citizen’s Income. Cottage Industry. Idling. Play. Collegiality. Absurdity. Anarchy. Automation. Autonomy. Fun.

You may be wondering if I’m joking or serious. I’m joking and serious. […] I’d like life to be a game — but a game with high stakes. I want to play for keeps.

Don’t buy into the system. Buy this instead.