In Hayek’s argument, the desirability of non-conscious production is that it allows beneficial outcomes without the need for producers to be compelled by external forces. It’s basically an argument against central planning: we should seek to “create” (I think he might oppose that word) modes of production that allow individuals to see the benefit of their own production, rather than having some external authority inculcate modes of production for their supposed benefit.

“if we are the change we have been waiting for then why have we been waiting since we’ve been here all along?” I think it’s reasonable that if people feel that they don’t have the agency to effect change, if they lose their sense of dignity and feel powerless to influence the running of their own country, they might just “wait” around until something in the power structure changes and some dynamic person comes in promising to restore their dignity, to restore them to power, to bring about the change they want. I’m not saying Obama *will* bring about the change they want, but just that this particular claim does in fact make sense.

As for the first passage, it makes me think of not just the trend toward lack of conscious control in production, but in our own lives, in our own social interactions and even our own interactions with ourselves. We’re supposed to just live life in the moment, enjoy things, without really *thinking* about them and making them meaningful. Action without the mental processing of that action makes our lives meaningless. Only when we take charge and conscious awareness of everything we do – typing this message, playing with my toenail, deciding to live another day – do we become Human.