The idea of having a relationship between a person’s contribution to our economy to the benefits she receives seems reasonable. Basic morality and some religious teaching such as the parable of the Good Samaritan calls for some modification of a strict application of “free enterprise”. 

As our society becomes more complex and interdependent the application of free enterprise becomes harder to apply. Today we have the ability to help those born with less ability to make a living without substantially affecting our average lifestyle. Wealth has migrated to the hands of a few people…thus destroying the free and easy ingress and egress into the marketplace, (the basic foundation of free enterprise). Qualifications necessary to enter into the economy and successfully acquire wealth has dramatically changed. 

In a more dramatic change in our system, we now have AI that will not only take over thinking for many economic functions, but many jobs folks rely upon to be a successful part of our free enterprise. Check-out clerks, assembly line workers, truck and taxi drivers, cooks, secretaries, etc. are about to lose their jobs to AI. Soon, we will be talking to computers rather than accountants, doctors, attorneys and others. 

Ironically, as the human jobs are reduced, production of goods and services will go up. The question arises: Should the goods and services continue to be divided by the system of participation in the economy. My suggestion is that we discuss these matters free of clichés or unmoving allegiance to an economic system that existed prior to the massive benefits of our economy without human effort and before a system that produces enough for all humans to have basic living quality.