A Potential Social Revolution?

Poul Anderson, Shield, XVII.

Looking at the few, drably clad monorail passengers, Koskinen reflects:

modern power tools and small machines are cheap;

biological fuel-cells provide low-cost energy;

food-growing techniques have been developed for extraterrestrial bases;

thus, self-sufficient families should be able to revive home industries, not to compete with automation but to coexist with it;

this would encourage rationalization of automation;

however, "...a nation of independent men..." (p. 135) would challenge the power of government, capital and organized labor;

therefore, home industries would be suppressed with zoning laws, regulations, taxes etc.

Hold on there, Koskinen. Self-sufficient families and independent men surely would compete "...with the big automated factories..." (p. 134) But how many people would have the initiative to do this? And how many of them would find something to produce that other people wanted? Enough of them to form a "nation"?

If I were in a trade union in that social scenario, then I would argue that the union should support any means by which people otherwise reduced to crime, dole or low-paid work became able to make themselves independent.