[dennisw]

The ultimate solution is not service jobs because we don’t need so many in those businesses. Malls and stores are closing right and left. Many to most service jobs are idiotic and provide no real benefit to society. Like all those nail salons that sprung up in the last few decades.

Plenty of the consumer crap is inane too thus those that sell it are useless too

My point is that plenty of what passes for economic activity in America is pointless and not needed. A huge medical sector that contributes hugely to GDP just means people are sicker than they should be and should drop their unhealthy habits. Then the GDP shrinks

[JasonC]

You know, you are right. In fact, everything people spend money on is pointless, except what I want it spent on. The economy would be just fine if I owned everything. When other people have any income and spend it on the things they want instead of on the things I know to be important, it is a complete waste.

Hand everything over to me. Problem solved.

Sometimes it is necessary to illustrate absurdity...

[BroJoeK]

"The ultimate solution is not service jobs because we don’t need so many in those businesses. Malls and stores are closing right and left. Many to most service jobs are idiotic and provide no real benefit to society. Like all those nail salons that sprung up in the last few decades."

"We"?
Who's this "we" Kemo Sabe?
Would that be you, and who else?
Do you speak for all their customers, or for some high level "economic planners" empowered to decide what "we" really need or don't need?
Of course not.

There are two macro-economic reasons why formerly prosperous businesses fail:

1. Obsolete business models get out-competed and replaced by newer-stronger models.

   Example: Mom&Pops replaced by shopping centers, replaced by malls, replaced by big-box & internet sales.
   Of course there are still plenty of the older stores around, but market leadership goes to the newer-stronger business models.

2. A business cycle downturn reduces everyone's income and causes the weaker businesses to fail.

Both of these factors are at work today, and at least to some degree it's all entirely natural.
When the economy finally begins to recover (that is to say, when we can get enough conservative Republicans elected to Congress), then the cycle will start all over again -- weaker businesses will recover, new business will form, all businesses will get healthier, and new, sometimes surprising market leaders will emerge.

That's business, that's the free market, that's life. It happens. Learn it, love it, Kemo Sabe. ;-)