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In my mind the only viable solutions are a form of automation tax along with universal income. Or some form of democratic and decentralized automation.

zardo 9y ago
Before we go taxing machines, we might start with reducing payroll taxes.
- jacobolus 9y ago
  The long-term (and very successful in many countries) right-leaning policy strategy for decades has been replacing inheritance and capital gains and corporate profit taxes with income taxes, income taxes with (capped) payroll taxes, property taxes with sales taxes, shifting liability from corporations to employees and customers, privatizing public infrastructure and services, breaking down collective bargaining rights, cutting real minimum wages and worker protections, etc., as a way of shifting financial burdens away from capital and the financial services industry and the idle rich and toward workers and citizens. You’re going to need a huge political upheaval and significant effort to educate the public to push things back in the other direction. Instead of taxes on automation I would recommend taxes on wealth and land value taxes, and very steep taxes on large inheritances, along with scrutinizing/outlawing various ways of hiding wealth by shifting it around between complicated webs of anonymous shell companies.
  - fartblaster9000 9y ago
    You know I don't see the point of working beyond my means (taking on risk) if I can't give that to my kids in some way.
- crdoconnor 9y ago
  Or increasing taxes on land and various forms of unearned income.
  - fartblaster9000 9y ago
    So raising the rent on homes, got it. Good idea.
apthnz 9y ago
You should read Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano if you haven't already, I think it's relevant to your interests.
- beebmam 9y ago
  There's a book that discussions Player Piano and extends upon its ideas, called Four Futures by Peter Frase. I strongly recommend Four Futures.
dang 9y ago
Would you please not post generic ideological comments to HN? That's not what this site is for, and this comment has nothing specifically to do with this article.

zardo 9y ago

Before we go taxing machines, we might start with reducing payroll taxes.

jacobolus 9y ago
The long-term (and very successful in many countries) right-leaning policy strategy for decades has been replacing inheritance and capital gains and corporate profit taxes with income taxes, income taxes with (capped) payroll taxes, property taxes with sales taxes, shifting liability from corporations to employees and customers, privatizing public infrastructure and services, breaking down collective bargaining rights, cutting real minimum wages and worker protections, etc., as a way of shifting financial burdens away from capital and the financial services industry and the idle rich and toward workers and citizens. You’re going to need a huge political upheaval and significant effort to educate the public to push things back in the other direction. Instead of taxes on automation I would recommend taxes on wealth and land value taxes, and very steep taxes on large inheritances, along with scrutinizing/outlawing various ways of hiding wealth by shifting it around between complicated webs of anonymous shell companies.
- fartblaster9000 9y ago
  You know I don't see the point of working beyond my means (taking on risk) if I can't give that to my kids in some way.
crdoconnor 9y ago
Or increasing taxes on land and various forms of unearned income.
- fartblaster9000 9y ago
  So raising the rent on homes, got it. Good idea.

apthnz 9y ago

You should read Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano if you haven't already, I think it's relevant to your interests.

beebmam 9y ago
There's a book that discussions Player Piano and extends upon its ideas, called Four Futures by Peter Frase. I strongly recommend Four Futures.

dang 9y ago

Would you please not post generic ideological comments to HN? That's not what this site is for, and this comment has nothing specifically to do with this article.