Player Piano

by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

“For generations they’ve been built up to worship competition and the market, productivity and economic usefulness, and the envy of their fellow men—and boom! it’s all yanked out from under them. They can’t participate, can’t be useful any more. Their whole culture’s been shot to hell.

....as if we are *supposed* to be 'useful'

“These displaced people need something, and the clergy can’t give it to them—or it’s impossible for them to take what the clergy offers. The clergy says it’s enough, and so does the Bible. The people say it isn’t enough, and I suspect they’re right.”

nothing is ever enough - you are now entering Existentialist Territory

“If they were so fond of the old system, how come they were so cantankerous about their jobs when they had them?” said Paul.