Thats a really interesting concept stuckey and i think your right about the ruling upper class not being willing let power and influence slip through their fingers.There is a man called Jacques Fresco who has thought about this future and how society can address it.
It is called the Venus Project and I find it very fascinating.
What I got out of it was that basically instead of fearing that robots and operating systems take over all jobs. Humanity embraces it and encourages every job in society to be automated. As a result no one in society earns an income because there is nothing to buy. If you want something the robots and operating systems provide it.
The only issue obviously with this is that he's asking the people with money and power to give that up for the good of us all which is very unlikely.
But I just find this alternative society fascinating that it really isn't all that ridiculous to think that every person could live a life exactly how they choose as every need that have could be provided to them.
Who feels like catching a plane to London tomorrow?
Who feels like climbing Mt Everest next week?
Who feels like spending every minute of everyday with the people you love?
Its not a perfect theory but I love the concept of it.
I highly reccomend this podcast for anyone interested in the economics of it all.
http://www.acoldwar.com/cold-war-11-economics-pt-3/
These guys have a bunch of different series covering world history but this particular episode talking about military keynesianism during the cold war and beyond absolutely blew my mind . I knew the world was messed up but ray and cam break it down and i cant help but wonder why this sort of thing never makes it to main stream media....oh thats right the illusion of free media and all.