Fuck Work: What if jobs are not the solution but the problem?

Work means everything to us Americans. For centuries – since, say,
1650 – we’ve believed that it builds character (punctuality, initiative,
honesty, self-discipline, and so forth). We’ve also believed that the
market in labour, where we go to find work, has been relatively
efficient in allocating opportunities and incomes. And we’ve believed
that, even if it sucks, a job gives meaning, purpose and structure to
our everyday lives – at any rate, we’re pretty sure that it gets us out
of bed, pays the bills, makes us feel responsible, and keeps us away
from daytime TV.

These beliefs are no longer plausible. In fact,
they’ve become ridiculous, because there’s not enough work to go around,
and what there is of it won’t pay the bills – unless of course you’ve
landed a job as a drug dealer or a Wall Street banker, becoming a
gangster either way.