You keep saying that. But risk in itself doesn't produce value. There's no value added until somebody pays you for your risk - and he pays you with the fruits of his labour. As for the "work" done by machines, it's for the benefit of humans, isn't it? And humans pay for it with their "labour", don't they?
Perhaps I need to pray for the strength to tolerate being broke as you are, and the strength to work until I drop.
The only advice I give young people is to enjoy life as they go along - don't wait for retirement. I've worked with too many people who spent their whole lives in jobs they hated, just trying to "get ahead".
My brother died at 56 with a "net worth" of about $700. I'd rather die with my boots on too.
What about America, though? Whether we all built the ark ourselves or not, it has a large hole and is sinking fast.
You have several choices. You can argue about who made the hole as you watch the boat sink. Or you can get out before it sinks. Or, as a last resort, you could even try to fix the hole.