"BTW, I do not buy into the Marxist idea that the only "real work" is that done by manual laborers, and that's the one you are trying to sell here."
Nice try. You prospered in the closest thing to marxism that exists today in the free world - the Civil Service System. I know nothing of marxism in my work, I just work hard and prosper because of it.
But since you brought up "manual laborers" how many do you think it takes to pay the taxes that fund the overly generous pension that you enjoy?
BTW, I've more than paid my total salary, benefits and pension numerous times over the years, frequently by "collecting" from people who thought it best to NOT PAY THEIR BILLS.