Interesting thought: what if it's the effeciency of technology rather than the automation that is the real problem to old school economics?

In order for me to be able to pay rent and eat food, and still have money left over, means that I'm "making a profit" in the business of me. In perfect competition, companies don't make any money. Technology is taking us closer to perfect competition between laborers. Everyone is now in competition with everyone and isn't this what we would expect in perfect competition: no one saves any money, you only get paid enough to eat and live.

Software engineers are fine for now, but look at the competition between soft skill positions, it's so fierce that people are barely making it.

My point is that it isn't automation, it's the lowering of friction between different laborers, and the commoditization of knowledge workers.