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Notes -
This wouldn't actually surprise me if it was pushed.
A long time ago in another life I was unemployed. To be entitled to unemployment benefits at my then age and ability, I was required to attend a 'work for the dole' program where myself and other ne'er-do-wells were required to do unskilled labour for about 20 hours per week. The work was in some cases beautifying public spaces as part of an incredibly lazy modern day press-gang, but I heard other 'workers' were assigned to various charities that had met the government's application requirements for the program.
The uses of the program seemed to be encouraging the lazy to at least try to contribute to society, avoiding the ire of actually hardworking taxpayers outraged at their tax dollars going to 'bludgers', and far down the list, actually giving some of the long-term unemployed skills and experience that could prove useful in the workforce. In practice it seemed to be a massive waste of time for all involved. Except perhaps the kabuki theater of placating taxpayers.
In a dystopian future I could absolutely see bullshit makework jobs used to keep the proles busy so they don't start plotting against their betters. 'Idle hands are the devil's workshop' and all that.
Edit: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Voice "There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
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