| Opinion polls are now beginning to show
an unwilling general agreement that, whoever is to{{U}} (21) {{/U}}and
whatever happens from now on, high unemployment is probably here to stay. This
means we shall have to find ways of{{U}} (22) {{/U}}the available
employment more widely. But we need to go further. We must ask some fundamental questions about the future of work. Should we continue to{{U}} (23) {{/U}}employment as the norm? Should we not rather encourage many other ways for self-respecting people to work? Should we not create conditions{{U}} (24) {{/U}}which many of us can work for ourselves,{{U}} (25) {{/U}}for an employer? The industrial age has been the only period of human history in which most people's work has taken the{{U}} (26) {{/U}}of jobs. The industrial age may now be{{U}} (27) {{/U}}to an end, and some of the changes in work patterns which it brought may have to be reversed. This seems a discouraging thought.{{U}} (28) {{/U}}, in fact, it could offer the prospect of a better future for work. Universal employment as its history shows, has not meant{{U}} (29) {{/U}}freedom. Employment became widespread{{U}} (30) {{/U}}the enclosures of the 17th and 18th centuries made many people dependent on paid work by depriving{{U}} (31) {{/U}}them the use of the land, and thus of the means to provide a living{{U}} (32) {{/U}}themselves. Then the factory system destroyed the cottage industries and removed work from the people's homes.{{U}} (33) {{/U}}, as transport improved, first by rail and then by road, people traveled longer distances to their places of employment until, {{U}}(34) {{/U}}, many people's work lost all connection{{U}} (35) {{/U}}their home lives and the places in which they lived. {{U}} (36) {{/U}}, employment put women{{U}} (37) {{/U}}a disadvantage. It became customary for the husband to go out to{{U}} (38) {{/U}}employment, leaving the unpaid work of the home and family to his wife. All this may now have to change. The time has certainly come to{{U}} (39) {{/U}}some effort and resources away from the{{U}} (40) {{/U}}goal of creating jobs for all, to the urgent practical task of helping many people to manage without full-time jobs. |