[Music] over the last few decades a
over the last few decades a
over the last few decades a multi-billion dollar industry has
multi-billion dollar industry has
multi-billion dollar industry has developed I’ll call it the escape
developed I’ll call it the escape
developed I’ll call it the escape industry I’m talking about the
industry I’m talking about the
industry I’m talking about the best-selling books that tell you to eat
best-selling books that tell you to eat
best-selling books that tell you to eat pray and love your way around the world
pray and love your way around the world
pray and love your way around the world the getaways and escape packages white
the getaways and escape packages white
the getaways and escape packages white sand beaches in Bali those two weeks of
sand beaches in Bali those two weeks of
sand beaches in Bali those two weeks of rest relaxation and companionship that
rest relaxation and companionship that
rest relaxation and companionship that we spend the rest of our year dreaming
we spend the rest of our year dreaming
we spend the rest of our year dreaming about the escape industry thrives
about the escape industry thrives
about the escape industry thrives because of a culture of overwork its
because of a culture of overwork its
because of a culture of overwork its products are band-aids for the stress
products are band-aids for the stress
products are band-aids for the stress loneliness exhaustion and constant
loneliness exhaustion and constant
loneliness exhaustion and constant consumption that have come to dominate
consumption that have come to dominate
consumption that have come to dominate our lives it wasn’t always like this
our lives it wasn’t always like this
our lives it wasn’t always like this for older generations a good job was one
for older generations a good job was one
for older generations a good job was one that let you build a life most jobs were
that let you build a life most jobs were
that let you build a life most jobs were in manufacturing and there was pride to
in manufacturing and there was pride to
in manufacturing and there was pride to be found in making things that were
be found in making things that were
be found in making things that were useful but that real sense of belonging
useful but that real sense of belonging
useful but that real sense of belonging came from your family in your community
came from your family in your community
came from your family in your community you worked to live but for my generation
you worked to live but for my generation
you worked to live but for my generation Generation Y and for those younger work
Generation Y and for those younger work
Generation Y and for those younger work has taken on a whole new meaning we
has taken on a whole new meaning we
has taken on a whole new meaning we don’t just want a steady job we want to
don’t just want a steady job we want to
don’t just want a steady job we want to do what we love we want a career we want
do what we love we want a career we want
do what we love we want a career we want to belong just like our parents did but
to belong just like our parents did but
to belong just like our parents did but we’ve been told that the way to express
we’ve been told that the way to express
we’ve been told that the way to express who we are is through our career and
who we are is through our career and
who we are is through our career and this means taking just one tiny part of
this means taking just one tiny part of
this means taking just one tiny part of ourselves and turning it into our whole
ourselves and turning it into our whole
ourselves and turning it into our whole identities it means multiple jobs which
identities it means multiple jobs which
identities it means multiple jobs which require extensive training often in
require extensive training often in
require extensive training often in places that mean we have to move away
places that mean we have to move away
places that mean we have to move away from the communities that we grew up in
from the communities that we grew up in
from the communities that we grew up in we’re living to work countless
we’re living to work countless
we’re living to work countless over the last decade have revealed the
over the last decade have revealed the
over the last decade have revealed the harm that this is this is causing us
public health researchers have
public health researchers have identified what they’ve turned an
identified what they’ve turned an
identified what they’ve turned an epidemic of loneliness with 18 to 34
epidemic of loneliness with 18 to 34
epidemic of loneliness with 18 to 34 year olds the loneliest group of all the
year olds the loneliest group of all the
year olds the loneliest group of all the polling company Gallup tells us that
polling company Gallup tells us that
polling company Gallup tells us that only 13% of people are happy in their
only 13% of people are happy in their
only 13% of people are happy in their job and the economist and politician
job and the economist and politician
job and the economist and politician Andrew Lee has found that Australians
Andrew Lee has found that Australians
Andrew Lee has found that Australians have stopped joining things we’re not
have stopped joining things we’re not
have stopped joining things we’re not joining churches sporting clubs unions
joining churches sporting clubs unions
joining churches sporting clubs unions or political parties anymore and he’s
or political parties anymore and he’s
or political parties anymore and he’s also found that we have fewer friends
also found that we have fewer friends
also found that we have fewer friends that were less connected with our
that were less connected with our
that were less connected with our neighbors and that we’re less likely to
neighbors and that we’re less likely to
neighbors and that we’re less likely to volunteer it’s no coincidence that in
volunteer it’s no coincidence that in
volunteer it’s no coincidence that in this culture of living to work the
this culture of living to work the
this culture of living to work the escape industry is booming
escape industry is booming
escape industry is booming because even if like me you’re one of
because even if like me you’re one of
because even if like me you’re one of the lucky few who do like your job
the lucky few who do like your job
the lucky few who do like your job we still dream of escape and that’s
we still dream of escape and that’s
we still dream of escape and that’s because the things that make life worth
because the things that make life worth
because the things that make life worth living just can’t be found in work if
living just can’t be found in work if
living just can’t be found in work if you read the accounts of staff in
you read the accounts of staff in
you read the accounts of staff in nursing homes who’ve sat at the bedsides
nursing homes who’ve sat at the bedsides
nursing homes who’ve sat at the bedsides of thousands of people they tell us that
of thousands of people they tell us that
of thousands of people they tell us that no one ever wishes that they’d worked
no one ever wishes that they’d worked
no one ever wishes that they’d worked more it’s those precious hours with
more it’s those precious hours with
more it’s those precious hours with family and with friends that make life
family and with friends that make life
family and with friends that make life meaningful it may also be a creative
meaningful it may also be a creative
meaningful it may also be a creative idea of project a sport something
idea of project a sport something
idea of project a sport something outside of the narrow confines of what
outside of the narrow confines of what
outside of the narrow confines of what we’ve translated into a career
we’ve limited ourselves because of a
we’ve limited ourselves because of a belief that the only valid way that we
belief that the only valid way that we
belief that the only valid way that we can contribute the only way to belong in
can contribute the only way to belong in
can contribute the only way to belong in our society is through your job
our society is through your job
our society is through your job expensive life coaches and whirlwind
expensive life coaches and whirlwind
expensive life coaches and whirlwind backpacking trips around India aren’t
backpacking trips around India aren’t
backpacking trips around India aren’t going to break us out of this culture of
going to break us out of this culture of
going to break us out of this culture of living to work what we need is freedom
living to work what we need is freedom
living to work what we need is freedom from work and to achieve that we need a
from work and to achieve that we need a
from work and to achieve that we need a movement this isn’t a new idea Australia
movement this isn’t a new idea Australia
movement this isn’t a new idea Australia was once governed by the masters and
was once governed by the masters and
was once governed by the masters and servants Act and under that act an
servants Act and under that act an
servants Act and under that act an employer could send the police to hunt
employer could send the police to hunt
employer could send the police to hunt after their employees if they were gone
after their employees if they were gone
after their employees if they were gone from work for even an hour without
from work for even an hour without
from work for even an hour without permission and then when the police
permission and then when the police
permission and then when the police brought the employee back they could
brought the employee back they could
brought the employee back they could imprison the employee could choose to
imprison the employee could choose to
imprison the employee could choose to imprison them or even to torture them we
imprison them or even to torture them we
imprison them or even to torture them we changed our society through a movement
changed our society through a movement
changed our society through a movement for freedom we went from the 16-hour to
for freedom we went from the 16-hour to
for freedom we went from the 16-hour to the 12-hour day and then it was
the 12-hour day and then it was
the 12-hour day and then it was Australian workers who were the first in
Australian workers who were the first in
Australian workers who were the first in the world to win the eight-hour day with
the world to win the eight-hour day with
the world to win the eight-hour day with no loss of pay within a hundred years
no loss of pay within a hundred years
no loss of pay within a hundred years we’d have our work week the eight-hour
we’d have our work week the eight-hour
we’d have our work week the eight-hour day was was not supposed to be the
day was was not supposed to be the
day was was not supposed to be the endpoint the movement was never supposed
endpoint the movement was never supposed
endpoint the movement was never supposed to end there all of the great leaders
to end there all of the great leaders
to end there all of the great leaders and thinkers from Karl Marx to John
and thinkers from Karl Marx to John
and thinkers from Karl Marx to John Maynard Keynes all thought that as we
Maynard Keynes all thought that as we
Maynard Keynes all thought that as we develop technology we’d liberate
develop technology we’d liberate
develop technology we’d liberate ourselves further from work in fact
ourselves further from work in fact
ourselves further from work in fact Keynes even thought that by 2020 we’d
Keynes even thought that by 2020 we’d
Keynes even thought that by 2020 we’d have a 16 hour work week but then just
have a 16 hour work week but then just
have a 16 hour work week but then just when Gen Y’s like me were being born the
when Gen Y’s like me were being born the
when Gen Y’s like me were being born the movement for freedom was stalled by
movement for freedom was stalled by
movement for freedom was stalled by trickle-down economics the belief that
trickle-down economics the belief that
trickle-down economics the belief that exponential wealth for the few will
exponential wealth for the few will
exponential wealth for the few will somehow end up benefiting all of us as a
somehow end up benefiting all of us as a
somehow end up benefiting all of us as a result we grew up in a culture that says
result we grew up in a culture that says
result we grew up in a culture that says that productivity is next to godliness
that productivity is next to godliness
that productivity is next to godliness that describes human beings as human
that describes human beings as human
that describes human beings as human capital or human resources without the
capital or human resources without the
capital or human resources without the faintest trace of irony manufacturing
faintest trace of irony manufacturing
faintest trace of irony manufacturing jobs are gone and in their place we’ve
jobs are gone and in their place we’ve
jobs are gone and in their place we’ve got corporate consulting and investment
got corporate consulting and investment
got corporate consulting and investment banking it’s now normal for for young
banking it’s now normal for for young
banking it’s now normal for for young people to go straight from university
people to go straight from university
people to go straight from university into corporate firms but they’ll spend
into corporate firms but they’ll spend
into corporate firms but they’ll spend the rest
the rest
the rest their 20s working 60 hour work weeks and
their 20s working 60 hour work weeks and
their 20s working 60 hour work weeks and those are the good jobs my generation
those are the good jobs my generation
those are the good jobs my generation are working harder than ever we’ve cut
are working harder than ever we’ve cut
are working harder than ever we’ve cut down on the part of life that makes us
down on the part of life that makes us
down on the part of life that makes us happy and keeps us healthy and for what
happy and keeps us healthy and for what
happy and keeps us healthy and for what so that we can generate profits for
so that we can generate profits for
so that we can generate profits for executives who earn 150 times the
executives who earn 150 times the
executives who earn 150 times the average worker’s salary to create a
average worker’s salary to create a
average worker’s salary to create a world where eight men are richer than
world where eight men are richer than
world where eight men are richer than the poorest 3.6 billion people we’re
the poorest 3.6 billion people we’re
the poorest 3.6 billion people we’re only the tiniest fraction of any of this
only the tiniest fraction of any of this
only the tiniest fraction of any of this wealth that we’ve created ever comes
wealth that we’ve created ever comes
wealth that we’ve created ever comes back to us through taxes and where those
back to us through taxes and where those
back to us through taxes and where those freedoms that our parents and
freedoms that our parents and
freedoms that our parents and grandparents won and fought for are
grandparents won and fought for are
grandparents won and fought for are under constant attack so what’s happened
under constant attack so what’s happened
under constant attack so what’s happened to the movement freedom well it’s been
to the movement freedom well it’s been
to the movement freedom well it’s been mostly abandoned by many of our unions
mostly abandoned by many of our unions
mostly abandoned by many of our unions they focus on jobs as ends in themselves
they focus on jobs as ends in themselves
they focus on jobs as ends in themselves which leads us to this absurd position
which leads us to this absurd position
which leads us to this absurd position where technology that could liberate us
where technology that could liberate us
where technology that could liberate us from work that could make our lives
from work that could make our lives
from work that could make our lives better is seen as a threat and we’re
better is seen as a threat and we’re
better is seen as a threat and we’re failing industries I have to have
failing industries I have to have
failing industries I have to have billions of dollars of government
billions of dollars of government
billions of dollars of government spending pumped into them even
spending pumped into them even
spending pumped into them even industries that are destroying our
industries that are destroying our
industries that are destroying our environment so that people can keep
environment so that people can keep
environment so that people can keep their jobs
their jobs
their jobs instead of presenting another way that
instead of presenting another way that
instead of presenting another way that people could live so how can we change
people could live so how can we change
people could live so how can we change the nature of the game well you don’t
the nature of the game well you don’t
the nature of the game well you don’t have to be a full-on communist
have to be a full-on communist
have to be a full-on communist revolutionary to see the sense in Marx’s
revolutionary to see the sense in Marx’s
revolutionary to see the sense in Marx’s vision of workers owning the means of
vision of workers owning the means of
vision of workers owning the means of production and by the means of
production and by the means of
production and by the means of production I mean factories energy
production I mean factories energy
production I mean factories energy supply land equipment tools all of the
supply land equipment tools all of the
supply land equipment tools all of the things that we need to make what we need
things that we need to make what we need
things that we need to make what we need add modern technology to this and
add modern technology to this and
add modern technology to this and Keynes’s fifteen hour work week actually
Keynes’s fifteen hour work week actually
Keynes’s fifteen hour work week actually is achievable today take uber for
is achievable today take uber for
is achievable today take uber for example uber has made sixty eight
example uber has made sixty eight
example uber has made sixty eight billion dollars by taking a cut of each
billion dollars by taking a cut of each
billion dollars by taking a cut of each transaction and that’s all sitting in
transaction and that’s all sitting in
transaction and that’s all sitting in the pockets of a few rich people
the pockets of a few rich people
the pockets of a few rich people but if uber were a worker owned platform
but if uber were a worker owned platform
but if uber were a worker owned platform every bird driver could earn a lot more
every bird driver could earn a lot more
every bird driver could earn a lot more while working a lot less there are
while working a lot less there are
while working a lot less there are cooperative versions of uber already
cooperative versions of uber already
cooperative versions of uber already springing up all around the world along
springing up all around the world along
springing up all around the world along with cooperative versions of eBay Airbnb
with cooperative versions of eBay Airbnb
with cooperative versions of eBay Airbnb and even consulting firms we can
and even consulting firms we can
and even consulting firms we can absolutely afford to invest in these to
absolutely afford to invest in these to
absolutely afford to invest in these to make them into credible alternatives our
make them into credible alternatives our
make them into credible alternatives our unions our super funds our governments
unions our super funds our governments
unions our super funds our governments can afford it it only cost 50 million to
can afford it it only cost 50 million to
can afford it it only cost 50 million to bring Ruby to scale a universal basic
bring Ruby to scale a universal basic
bring Ruby to scale a universal basic income is critical a society that truly
income is critical a society that truly
income is critical a society that truly values human beings is one that supports
values human beings is one that supports
values human beings is one that supports everyone no matter their job status and
everyone no matter their job status and
everyone no matter their job status and basic income trials are already underway
basic income trials are already underway
basic income trials are already underway in Finland and Canada right now we also
in Finland and Canada right now we also
in Finland and Canada right now we also have to consume less and that’s a moral
have to consume less and that’s a moral
have to consume less and that’s a moral choice but working less will will help
choice but working less will will help
choice but working less will will help us because with less work there’s a lot
us because with less work there’s a lot
us because with less work there’s a lot less need for things like prepackaged
less need for things like prepackaged
less need for things like prepackaged food take away expensive clothes gym
food take away expensive clothes gym
food take away expensive clothes gym memberships petrol dog walkers house
memberships petrol dog walkers house
memberships petrol dog walkers house cleaners nannies Lewis goes on and that
cleaners nannies Lewis goes on and that
cleaners nannies Lewis goes on and that in turn of course means that we’re
in turn of course means that we’re
in turn of course means that we’re creating less work for others to have to
creating less work for others to have to
creating less work for others to have to do with automation and massive job
do with automation and massive job
do with automation and massive job losses around the corner there’s going
losses around the corner there’s going
losses around the corner there’s going to be a lot of suffering if we can’t
to be a lot of suffering if we can’t
to be a lot of suffering if we can’t break out at this culture of living to
break out at this culture of living to
break out at this culture of living to work in our environment which much like
work in our environment which much like
work in our environment which much like how lives is being destroyed for profit
how lives is being destroyed for profit
how lives is being destroyed for profit isn’t going to hold up either what I’ve
isn’t going to hold up either what I’ve
isn’t going to hold up either what I’ve suggested are just a few of many many
suggested are just a few of many many
suggested are just a few of many many options that we could consider but the
options that we could consider but the
options that we could consider but the fundamental choice that we have to make
fundamental choice that we have to make
fundamental choice that we have to make is one of values we can spend our lives
is one of values we can spend our lives
is one of values we can spend our lives continuing to generate grotesque profits
continuing to generate grotesque profits
continuing to generate grotesque profits for the few or we can build a real
for the few or we can build a real
for the few or we can build a real sharing economy we can be lonely and
sharing economy we can be lonely and
sharing economy we can be lonely and exhausted in our McMansions and our new
exhausted in our McMansions and our new
exhausted in our McMansions and our new cars or we can really take the time to
cars or we can really take the time to
cars or we can really take the time to care for ourselves and for each other we
care for ourselves and for each other we
care for ourselves and for each other we can eat joyfully we can pray
can eat joyfully we can pray
can eat joyfully we can pray or dream often and we can practice love
or dream often and we can practice love
or dream often and we can practice love for ourselves for our friends for our
for ourselves for our friends for our
for ourselves for our friends for our family for our communities daily because
family for our communities daily because
family for our communities daily because when it comes to deciding how to spend
when it comes to deciding how to spend
when it comes to deciding how to spend the majority of this very short time
the majority of this very short time
the majority of this very short time that each of us has here on earth
that each of us has here on earth
that each of us has here on earth there’s no such thing as a good job but
there’s no such thing as a good job but
there’s no such thing as a good job but we can choose to live good lives thank
we can choose to live good lives thank
we can choose to live good lives thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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