A Modest Disposal

Step right up, folks, it is time for our program on Adversity, Inequity, and Exclusion. The purpose of this program is to weed out any living thing that is in the way of progress, a burden, or a threat to our new social order. The notion that living things have “intrinsic value” is no longer an acceptable defense. Each individual must prove to be essential to the economy. If you are not essential, you will be sent down the chute.

First up? The chronically ill. By being chronically ill, you understand, you are a net drain on the economy. You can’t really contribute anything so why should perfectly healthy people, complete strangers in fact, care anything about you? If you have the means to care for yourself, you can stay. Otherwise, down the chute!

Next? The working person. While it is true that you were worth something in the past, when you offered you blood, sweat and tears to make deserving people wealthier, in the new economy you have become obsolete. Pretty much anything you did in the past can be accomplished by machines.  The new economy is for entrepreneurs only, not for dummies who work for a paycheck. Thank you for your service, but we don’t need you now. Down the chute!

Oh, yes, and here we have the artist. Don’t even bother. We now have artificial intelligence that can crank out hundreds of units per minute and provide us with decorations for our giant homes and music to pump us up. That is what art and music are for, after all. Why should we wait for you to feel “inspired” or the need to “express yourself”. That can take months! Who needs you? Rejected!

Next up: Nature. This is an easy one! Nature, you can eke out an existence if you want to, but only in places where we can’t build resorts. The new economy will require lots of these places, you see, because our entrepreneurizens will need plenty of rest and relaxation and they get bored easily. They’ll need places to go. They also need palaces and yachts, because the bigger your stuff, the more powerful you are. You do understand, don’t  you? I mean, once you have reached the point of being so scarce that you are in demand, we’ll set up some zoos, how does that sound? That could be profitable. Watch your wings on the way down.

Women, come on down. You know what the story is here. A few of you may have what it takes to make it as an entrepreneur, but it will be very competitive out there! And, as you know, your tendency for compassion and nurturing makes you unsuitable for such pursuits. However, we do like to have you around for two reasons. First, to bear children (at least until we can develop a robot that does that) and second, as entertainment. As long as you are ripe and fertile you can stay. Otherwise, what purpose do you really serve? You know where to go. Watch your step, ladies.

Educators. Oh, now you are preapproved for rejection. Don’t even bother pleading your case. All the basic skills one will need in the new economy are easily learned through AI.  Beyond that, if you are not teaching a useful skill like marketing or the art of deception, what is really the purpose of anything else? History? Please. Philosophy? There is only one philosophy: the unaffluent life is not worth living. Any other ideas might lead to critical thinking: a threat to the new social order.

Journalists. Oh, good heavens. This entire field rests on the backwards assumption that there is objective truth.  All our entrepreneur-izens need to know is where the best resorts are and how the stocks are doing. People may want to know what their opponents are up to. In that case, they can hire a spy. Now that’s a job that is in demand! You know where to go. Don’t try anything sneaky.   

Oh, here we go, this is just sort of the catch-all category: anyone “different”. What do we mean by different? Well, that could be a lot of things, but conformity is essential to efficiency.  If you can somehow make your “difference” profitable, then you can stay. If you have any other ideas like insisting on having rights, fighting for justice, having compassion for others, being your authentic selves, sharing, creating community, or any nonsense like that, we can’t use you. So, some of you can stick around if you follow the rules. But because you are “different’, you are suspect. We’ll be watching you to make sure you don’t step out of line.   

Alright, and last on our list: the failed entrepreneur. You know, of course, that in the casino economy there will always be some losers. It’s just the nature of the beast. However, if you’ve lost, it is necessary to also remember that this is entirely your fault. Maybe you weren’t manipulative enough. Maybe you didn’t tell your lies convincingly. Maybe you didn’t schmooze enough with people above you. Maybe you are too much of a slob. Whatever the reason, failure is a fault of the failed. Second chances are for snowflakes. Take a ride.

Here’s the deal, folks. We, the super wealthy, have decided that life would run much more efficiently if robots and artificial intelligence produced all the goods and services that we need to live. That way, our brave entrepreneurs can focus on what really matters: gambling and acquiring as much stuff and status as possible! Adapt or die.