In our civilized societies we are rich. Why then are the many poor? Why this painful drudgery for the masses? Why, even to the best-paid workman, this uncertainty for the morrow, in the midst of all the wealth inherited from the past, and in spite of the powerful means of production, which could ensure comfort to all, in return for a few hours daily toil? - Peter Kropotkin (1892)
People don't have to work for someone else. They can run their own business, however small. They can move to the country and rent some land to farm. They could form a collective to do that. Or get investment to get going. Or help someone else doing the same for a fixed payment. Yes, a wage - whoops - is that slavery? Yes we should have some form of social safety net and the monopolies and billionaires shouldn't be allowed to hoard wealth and unfairly stifle competition. But without that competitive drive, our innovation would falter.