I disagree with this article. Apathy didn't kill anything; the unstoppable juggernaut of technology can, is and will replace all pseudo factory robots with actual factory robots. What we do about that is the question of the ages indeed.

If you're interested in a much more insightful discussion of this issue, this is very much worth your time: http://unqualified-reservations.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/sam-...

People don't want "jobs", they want "income". It is individuals that will need to own these future assets, like 3D printers to insure they have income.

In response to: "Otherwise we would do well to imagine and plan for a near-term future in which all manufacturing and most construction around the world is replaced by 3D printers. Our kids and grandkids may be reduced to futures in direct competition with a global employment pool of poorly compensated printer designers, printer operators, and printer repairmen, where lowest cost energy as a factor in production reigns supreme"

I agree and approve of the tone in this post. Our thought leaders are bankrupt, and our media only elects puppets they can manipulate to this position... We have no objective information about anything that matters in this country, leaving us adrift in a sea of lies and make believe.