The final two chapters shift from the concrete and anecdotal to the more abstract. Graeber explores both labor and free market theories of value as they apply to BS jobs; anthropological and historic theological perceptions of work; and the political ramifications of moral envy.
It's dense material. I could understand the first two part of the book through my own experience, but to fully comprehend this part requires a solid knowledge of current events.
For example, Graeber recognizes that:
“most people seem to accept the basic logic of the contemporary moralists: that society is besieged by those who want something for nothing, that the poor are largely poor because they lack the will and discipline to work, that only those who do or have worked harder than they’d like to at something they would rather not be doing, preferably under a harsh taskmaster, deserve respect and consideration from their fellow citizens.” [p243]Judging from the Baby Boomer criticism of Millennials that I see on Facebook, that is entirely the case.
Looking forward, this section is the most relevant to the U.S. economy. As our experience with COVID19 reveals just how many jobs never really required someone to be on-hand anyway, the situation is still unfolding.
Are people inherently lazy? Do we really need to be strong-armed by threats of destitution to find work? Is it true that “idle hands are the devil’s playground”? Is a universal basic income actually feasible? These questions linger.
As I reevaluate what I grew up thinking, watch the pandemic progress, and anticipate the presidential election in the fall, I can’t help but wonder what the future will hold for BS job holders like me.
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