This is a very easy position to take when you're part of the group that can easily become an "automator". I want to be entirely on the side that you describe here, but I simply can't ignore the negative quality of life that this will (and has been) imposing on a large proportion of society. This group is casually waved away; "just get a higher education", "just move to where the jobs are", "don't have to take care of your grandchildren because your children fell into opioid abuse because of the lack of opportunity even if you (currently) have a job", "take family-breaking commutes to better jobs in areas where the public transportation is poor or nonexistent".

The "free market" doesn't give a crap about these folks ... just like nature doesn't care when an ecosystem is affected by the arrival of some new invasive species. If there ain't no food, you starve. That may be fine for the local rabbit population, but we have to watch out and help our fellow human ... we're not savages.

edit: To be clear, as an "automator" myself, I obviously have a vested interest in this trend continuing. I'm obviously not saying that we should become the proverbial luddites and stop automation. But we do need to get better about making sure that humanity keeps marching forward one way or another.