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Much of the world still does not have basic physical world needs being met (air, sustenance, clothing/shelter, sleep). Heck, a lot of America still doesn't hav
by araes 9y ago
Much of the world still does not have basic physical world needs being met (air, sustenance, clothing/shelter, sleep). Heck, a lot of America still doesn't have those needs met. Many of the jobs, and much of the money can still be made by tackling them. And its relativistic, so you can always make "better" versions too. Sure, automation is reducing them, but clever people can tackle how to build a better house, grow food more economically, ect... and employ people while they're doing it.
Safety / security needs (personal, financial, health). Tons of money and jobs here too. Much of America is floating in this zone and needs these services or better versions. Much of the world barely has them. The current health care system (in America) is atrocious and vastly overpriced, smart folks like Buffet are rightly pushing into that space.
Social needs (family, friendship, intimacy, esteem). Vast amounts of money / jobs, and tons of room for innovation. People need real versions of these, not virtual software things. Ways to actually meet new friends - in the physical world. To find intimacy in natural ways. To feel like they actually have a family instead of being increasingly isolated. (I say this as I type alone on a computer at a coffeeshop...)
I won't even cover actualization and transcendence. I suspect such a small percent of the world could even describe what that it means to fully realize themselves that if you can make a job out of it, you're set.
Short version - hand wringing is silly. What do people actually need? There are future jobs and money.
- jakecopp 9y agoThese aren't technology problems, they are social and political problems. > To feel like they actually have a family instead of being increasingly isolated. There is no app for that, and I don't know if there should be.
- jakecopp 9y agoSorry, I think I read your message completely wrong - I take this back. It sounds like you're arguing that in fixing these social problems more jobs will be created - I originally thought you wanted to "disrupt" these fields using tech.
- PeterisP 9y agoNeeds don't create jobs, economic demand creates them - and the big difference between a need, necessity or desire versus economic demand is the ability to afford that good or service. If people can't afford basic physical needs, then that's going to create jobs only if these people somehow get extra resources for that. The current job trends won't do that, they're likely going to make it worse for those people that can't afford basic needs - either it's going to be solved by some major politic-economic intervention redistributing resources (UBI being one of multiple possibilities) or it's not going to happen and those needs will stay unmet.
- TheOtherHobbes 9y agoIt’s economic cause and effect. The economy is optimised as a wealth capture machine for the proverbial 1%, not as a goods, services, and opportunity machine for the 99% - all while being sold to the 99% as the exact thing it isn’t. A truly entrepreneurial economy optimised to allow those with limited social and economic capital the opportunity to start and run successful businesses would look very different. It might even make articles like this one unnecessary.
- JPKab 9y agoFrom the article: She hates school. “Elementary school: hated it,” Amber says. “Middle school: h-a-t-e-d it. School just isn’t for me. I hate coming to school. I hate waking up early. I hate homework.” Amber envisions a comfortable future that includes a family, a modern-yet-rustic house and a good job, maybe as a business owner Hmmmm. Not sure that much can be done, or should be done, to help lazy unmotivated people with unrealistic expectations.
- sokoloff 9y agoA Jack Handy deep thought applies here: It's easy to sit there and say you'd like to have more money. And I guess that's what I like about it. It's easy. Just sitting there, rocking back and forth, wanting that money. [0] - http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93ddeep1.phtml http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93ddeep1.phtml
- 9y ago