Because, barring a grand upheaval in global economic systems, most people generally need to sell their labour in order to earn a 'wage' which they spend on food, clothing, rent, etc.

Let's tax AI work and redistribute wealth. Work does not have to have a monopoly on wage. Just give us money. We can achieve a post-scarcity society.

The truth is the society needs people to put their time and energy somewhere so the society can function in order. That's why all governments, regardless its kind, care about employment, economy. Our society will collapse if people all have free time to do whatever they want.

We can do lots of things in the abstract. Concentrations of power, wealth and the political trends of the last 20 or so years make me less optimistic.

I'm noticing an uptick in the number of people who are agreeing with the idea, in the abstract, though.

Hmm, sounds like we need a grand upheaval in the global economic system in that case.

Oh yeah no worries. We'll have a prototype post-scarcity society in a few months.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.