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"An automation tax will reduce the inequality between owners of capital, who can buy robots, and those who cannot. " It's an utterly and completely absurd idea

"An automation tax will reduce the inequality between owners of capital, who can buy robots, and those who cannot. " It's an utterly and completely absurd idea. There is no such thing as a 'robot automaton' for the most part anyhow. Do you know Starbucks started using machines to make Capuccinos instead of having the baristas do the full work. Does that count as a robot? Does the new accounting software that requires less human input count as a robot? Do the police traffic cameras count as robots? What about airlines that used to have 4 crew in the cockpit but now only 2 due to advances in navigation? Or the specialized 'domain search' tools for professions that save 1/2 their search time and therefore law/medical firms require less staffers? Or the automated ticketing booths at the Airport? Or the upgraded baggage handling machine that works twice as fast and requires less humans moving luggage? Or the advanced comms/radar that means greater safety and 1/2 the air traffic control staff? Can you imagine the legal hangaring over what constitutes 'automation'? And the lawsuits? And the cost? This is part of the reason that the EU is in many ways a complete disaster. How utterly stupid. There's an article today about France trying to recruit startups. The moment you hire a few people, and use online services to do your taxes, instead of doing them yourself - do you have to 'assess' your workplace as having an 'automation' upgrade and then pay more taxes? It's fantastically Orwellian.

ragebol 10y ago
Of course there would need to be a proper definition, I don't exactly know that too. Regardless, I do favor automation, just as a I favor to have a more leisurely life. This is possible with automation, but not as the world currently works: automation makes people loose their jobs, without pay. If automated labor were taxed, people can loose their jobs with pay. Yes, there are difficulties, but I think it's worth looking in to them. As to the baristas, making the coffee is only a part of the job. Many parts of many jobs will be automated, allowing the humans to focus on what remains and maybe expand/improve that.

ragebol 10y ago

Of course there would need to be a proper definition, I don't exactly know that too. Regardless, I do favor automation, just as a I favor to have a more leisurely life. This is possible with automation, but not as the world currently works: automation makes people loose their jobs, without pay. If automated labor were taxed, people can loose their jobs with pay. Yes, there are difficulties, but I think it's worth looking in to them. As to the baristas, making the coffee is only a part of the job. Many parts of many jobs will be automated, allowing the humans to focus on what remains and maybe expand/improve that.