3 ms·

I agree to a point but I think it is a different scenario today as you have unprecedented concentration of wealth in the top 1 % as well as the means of product

I agree to a point but I think it is a different scenario today as you have unprecedented concentration of wealth in the top 1 % as well as the means of production. I have a hard time seeing how 5% of the nations workforce suddenly transitions to jobs that did not exist before. You also have an increase in the cost of living where most households require two incomes compounding the issue. With agriculture new jobs were created as people moved to cities and new communities were created. those cities already exist. Short of a sudden civilization focused effort to colonize mars, I just don't see it.

malandrew 9y ago
I honestly don't think we pay enough attention to the rising cost of living. Cost of living should go down year over year due to productivity gains, but we see at least three line items becoming more expensive over time: (1) housing, (2) healthcare, and (3) higher education. https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost-disease/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost... https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/17/highlights-from-the-comments-on-cost-disease/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/17/highlights-from-the-co... https://howmuch.net/articles/american-spending-past-75-years https://howmuch.net/articles/american-spending-past-75-years
- cousin_it 9y ago
  Amusingly, these exact three things were free in the USSR. I benefited from that a lot. Though most other consumer goods were less affordable and lower quality in the USSR than in the US, and the economy was in worse shape overall. I wonder if there's a way to combine the two systems without people screaming blue murder.
  - malandrew 9y ago
    I'm not suggesting that those should be free. I'm saying we should eliminate governmental policies that restrict consumer choice and market competition or contribute to cost disease.
    - deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
rhino369 9y ago
Well, it won't be sudden. But the job loss might not be sudden either. Personal computers destroyed the secretary job over about 30 years. And that used to be the most common job in America. Even Level 4 automated cars debut tomorrow, we'll need truck drivers for a long time. You need someone there to watch the goods, arrange deliveries, unload, etc. It'll probably allow truckers to drive 24 hours a day instead of 14, which will cost jobs, but it won't be a complete loss. Same goes for Ubers. You'll need full level 5 unless you want lost Ubers clogging our streets all the time. That probably means you'll need a person in the car for years to come.

malandrew 9y ago

I honestly don't think we pay enough attention to the rising cost of living. Cost of living should go down year over year due to productivity gains, but we see at least three line items becoming more expensive over time: (1) housing, (2) healthcare, and (3) higher education. https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost-disease/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/09/considerations-on-cost... https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/17/highlights-from-the-comments-on-cost-disease/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/17/highlights-from-the-co... https://howmuch.net/articles/american-spending-past-75-years https://howmuch.net/articles/american-spending-past-75-years

cousin_it 9y ago
Amusingly, these exact three things were free in the USSR. I benefited from that a lot. Though most other consumer goods were less affordable and lower quality in the USSR than in the US, and the economy was in worse shape overall. I wonder if there's a way to combine the two systems without people screaming blue murder.
- malandrew 9y ago
  I'm not suggesting that those should be free. I'm saying we should eliminate governmental policies that restrict consumer choice and market competition or contribute to cost disease.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]

rhino369 9y ago

Well, it won't be sudden. But the job loss might not be sudden either. Personal computers destroyed the secretary job over about 30 years. And that used to be the most common job in America. Even Level 4 automated cars debut tomorrow, we'll need truck drivers for a long time. You need someone there to watch the goods, arrange deliveries, unload, etc. It'll probably allow truckers to drive 24 hours a day instead of 14, which will cost jobs, but it won't be a complete loss. Same goes for Ubers. You'll need full level 5 unless you want lost Ubers clogging our streets all the time. That probably means you'll need a person in the car for years to come.