you kind of encompassed this, but more generally what happens when the demand for semi-skilled labor just dries up. there is just no need for these people and t

you kind of encompassed this, but more generally what happens when the demand for semi-skilled labor just dries up. there is just no need for these people and their work. not in any geography. not for packaging, painting, sorting, inspection, assembly, or any such task. the quasi equilibrium of the 20th century labor economy is gone. i don't know what we're going to do with those people, but it seems likely that a lot of those towns will be completely gone in a generation or less.