We must do away with the absolutely specious notion that everybody has to earn a living.

[mike_c]

66. there seems to be a general assumption that anyone not "working" is idle....

I belong to a group that shows how unjustified this assumption is: my work calendar is the academic calendar. I have nearly three months "off" during summer and a month or so at christmas. Notwithstanding that part of that time ends up being used for academic preparation-- a lot of it during christmas break, especially-- I still have big chunks of "leisure time" to fill, especially during summer. Believe me, there is no shortage of work that needs to be done. It's just that I get to pick most of it myself, with an emphasis on choosing challenging and self fulfilling tasks. I've spent much of this summer working on a pair of custom made sea kayaks and learning to make fine wooden boxes. Neither pays the bills, but both enrich my life.

My point is that I'm certainly not idle. I choose work that not only keeps me busy, but also work that provides challenges and stimulation that's not really part of my regular employment (which is itself challenging and fulfilling career work).

Freedom from "work" in the sense of freedom from employment doesn't necessarily mean sloth and idleness. It also means freedom to choose work that's interesting and fulfilling instead of merely selling one's time to pay the rent.