[Jack]

My compliments on most of what you say; however, I'd like to quibble with one point.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')utomation / off-shoring will accelerate

[satjeet]

This is how I see it. Just my little notion. If you are a meditator then you know that for unknown reasons your notion of your own body will shift leaving you in a different world. But what if the world - ie your experience of the world - shifts. Then you have no choice but to shift with it. This will happen and we will be bewildered!

[Colorado-Valley]

Actually in the 1970s there were many people who voluntarily lowered their standard of living, moved to the country or to the mountains and lived (and are still living) a simpler, more elegant lifestyle than the rat race of consumerism they left behind.

I'd call these the "John Denver people." Their idea of a good time is to sit around the campfire listening to good music -- maybe playing "Poems and Prayers and Promises" and passing the pipe around.

I've lived both the rat race and their way of life, and to tell you the truth, their way is better.

My optimistic view of PP would be that people learn to live simpler, and more enjoyable lives, realizing that quality of life is ultimately more important than standard of living.