Replacing employees is not the problem. In fact, it's a good thing. It frees people up to do more enjoyable things with their lives.

The problem is that our economic system is unequipped to handle a world in which people aren't expected to work jobs "just because."

I disagree. Technology should be focused with all things that reduce the need for human labor.

What we need is what gp says: a decent social safety net. It cannot happen as long as we vote for people who want to reduce taxes.