I immediately began reading that paragraph in a Viv Stanshall voice.

If the top 10% or can influence the economy more by trading amongst themselves than the other 90% then that is the problem. The politicians care about the GDP first and foremost.

Why can't it be a conspiracy theory and be true?

It's a flaw in the economic system that has only come to light in recent years, not anything to do with the value of automation technology.

Isn't the idea of business or any person in a monetary society to get as much money as possible for as little as possible? Isn't that why we have all the corruption, deception, exploitation and competition? Aren't monopoly and collusion inevitable? If someone has more power than others, how could you expect them to be honest and fair? All they will do is use their position of power to gain more power and/or further secure their current standing. Somebody please explain to me how you can expect a society to work like that because it's driving me nuts. Wouldn't it be much better if everyone could agree that we're all equal, we all want to survive, and the best thing for all of us is to just get along? :(

There's a difference between wanting something and being willing and able to pay for it.

You mean when they do not keep their promises. And no, it is not better than some arbitrary person in power. It's not so much the people within the system I'm against, it's the system itself. I'm sure this will sound foreign and absurd to you but I believe the only way to orient a society without exploitation and despotism is to actively stamp out dominance and competition. The thoughts of a lazy, self-serving cynic probably don't mean much to you so I'm willing to agree to disagree.

You think you're making the world a better place by putting a person into power based on what he promises to do? Naivety, thy name is spun.

Even if politicians were honest they don't know anything about solving problems.

You may have taken my post too seriously, I'm not an idiot. I wouldn't have bothered replying except that someone might mistake the words you put in my mouth for my own.

http://www.geraldscarfe.com/gallery_politics/joinatob_lg.jpg

http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/291/3/R768 Here's a study among others that show the ability of the environment to override genetic predispositions. I won't dispute the importance of genetics in governing behaviour, but given the range of cultural norms experienced by humans in time frames far too short to be explained by genetics I think it's clear that the environment is the overriding factor. What I will dispute is your claim of an on-or-off state, where a person either can or cannot be a rocket surgeon regardless of their environment.

What innate capacity to be a rocket surgeon? The rocket surgeon gene?

That doesn't refute the OP's point. Are you saying someone who studied rocket surgery their entire life wouldn't be a competent rocket surgeon?

Are you kidding? Technology is the only thing that has ever improved our lives.