Reddit reviews Zero Marginal Cost Society

You make an interesting point. A way to put this is that the most important event in human history since about the year 1650 with the start of the (water powered then) industrial revolution -- was the --- discover of burning fossil fuels. Energy consumption powers economic growth. Its what got humanity out of poverty. "All economic activity comes from harnessing availalable energy" = p10, "The Zero Marginal Cost Society" by Jeremy Rifkin. What my point is that we have to move beyond that discovery for the sake of humanity, move to embrace a fully renewable energy paradigm, all electric probably, -- so that we still exist when it is our time to reach for the stars.

Oh nice, sounds like the zero marginal cost society. https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Marginal-Cost-Society-Collaborative/dp/1137280115

You might be interested in it, talks about similar things.

I found it to be a good companion to Bregman's Utopia for Realists.
https://www.amazon.com/Utopia-Realists-Build-Ideal-World/dp/0316471895

Either way, thanks for naming the book. Gonna check that one out.

This is only going to accelerate in time. We're not going to stop it. Automation and technological innovations are two of the factors weighing down economies across the globe. The Zero Marginal Cost Society talks about the end of traditional capitalism as we've all known it and hints at the rise of the Share Society that's only now starting.

We're not going to stop technology from advancing. Automating is only one facet. What about Robot Soldiers? Or HERE. If you really wanna blow your mind away watch A Day Made of Glass I and A Day Made of Glass II both created in 2011 and 2012 respectively, so they're dated. Much of this technology is already available, just not to the scale envisioned here and certainly not affordable today.

Remember TI's first electronic calculator? Whoa! We've come a long, long way since 1974!!!

(Meant to post this as a reply apols)

Yes, You may be right and I may be wrong.

But these changes are happening regardless - so I think it's worth following through the arguments, specifics and potential policies we might like to see enacted so that it works out for the best.

You know, we should think like Contact and formulate views and express them to the outside world.

Funnily enough companies right now are struggling with the concept of zero margin business. See Amazon/Wholefoods as a small example.

Or this : https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Marginal-Cost-Society-Collaborative/dp/1137280115

Rifling has a good website that explains tech and 'the end of capitalism' and how it all might work out.

And the concept of a Universal Basic Income is related to this. Or as workers are displaced by robots - perhaps giving ownership shares to all workers past and present.

These topics strike me as best considered with a Culture mindset and a Contact practicality. What society should we aim for and what should we do to achieve that?

I just realized something. Everyone on this subreddit IS Contact...

Book on exactly this question:
https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Marginal-Cost-Society-Collaborative/dp/1137280115