The new possibilities

I'm reading a series of sci-fi novels set in the far future.  The dominant society in the galaxy is call the Culture.  Money has no meaning to the people in this society since the machines they have created have produced so much wealth the human members can pursue whatever jobs they want to or not.  Some people specialize in playing games.  Others pursue planetscaping.  Still others help the machines run the galaxy.  As opposed to the terminator vision of the future, machines are benevolent and view humanity as a feature, not a bug.  What fascinates me is a future where you are not forced to chase dollars at the expense of what you may perceive as your true vocation.  Which brings me to the article in today's times saying the middle class must educate its way out of the current lack of middle skilled jobs.  If productivity is so high, why do we have to dream up new ways to make money.  Let people pursue their muse and see where society goes.  Of course there will be some who decide an 18 hour day watching ESPN is there idea of productivity, but some are already doing that.  Let a million flowers bloom and there will be enough bouquets for everyone.  We may be approaching the ability to make money superfluous.