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I used to have debates with socialists about this all the time. My view:

If we encourage capitalism, industrialization, and free-marker entrepreneurialism, the end result will be a proliferation of machines that do the work that humans used to do. The socialist response: WE CANNOT ALLOW IT! Human must be slaves! They must toil in fields and in factories! The Proletariat is vitally important and we must preserve their grubby way of life!

Socialists do not want to free humans from dangerous or boring work. They want humans to be slaves in a vast, impersonal economic system. What I want:

Really cheap fuel because the machines make it.
Really cheap steel because the machines make it.
Really cheap cars, because the machines make them.
Really cheap food because the machines grow it.
Really cheap books, DVD's, swimming pools -- because the machines make them.

If I can live a life of leisure on $4.50 a year, I'd be happy. Can anyone argue that such a desire will be forever impossible? Can anyone argue that such a desire is inherently anti-Conservative or anti-Capitalist?

And where do I get my annual income of $4.50? Heck, maybe I don't even need that. Automation is bad for socialists -- but good for anyone who cares about freedom.

Something else to consider: What do the defenders of illegal immigrants always say? “They do the work that Americans refuse to do!” Well, what if machines did all that work? What would the illegal immigrants do then? Collect Welfare? How many defenders would they have then??

Increased automation helps in the fight against illegal immigration because it removes the need for low-skilled workers.

But what about lazy stupid Americans who also need low-skill work?

Fewer low-skill jobs increase the incentive to improve our education system to that a higher percentage of American citizens can do the jobs that machines cannot. You see, we can limp along with poor-quality government schools if McDonald’s will hire the “graduates”. But if McDonald’s won’t do that anyone, we have a problem. The solution is to make sure that the schools churn out people who use the English language well, and can handle math and computer skills. If the NEA stands in the way, they will be swept away.

My bottom line: Free Market, pro-capitalist Conservatives (IMO) should not argue against technical and economic advances which decrease labor costs for major businesses.