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I find the issue of technological change and class warfare interesting. I think overall technological change can lead to widespread social empowerment, but the

I find the issue of technological change and class warfare interesting. I think overall technological change can lead to widespread social empowerment, but the most politically entrenched workers with the loudest voices are those who are least likely to benefit from it. On the other hand, the kid in India using a $35 tablet to learn calculus or the people starting businesses using Kickstarter are hugely empowered by it. The main reason I mentioned technological change is just to reinforce that productive work is a moving target, for all factors of production (including labor). It's sentimental to look back fondly on the blacksmith or the wheelwright or the person who made nails by hand... just as it is to look fondly upon the economic fluke that has allowed many Americans to live well above the poverty line with virtually no skills, in spite of living amid an economy that has transferred mostly to knowledge work. I will look into Belloc's stuff too, links?

einhverfr 15y ago
Belloc's "The Servile State" can be found at: http://www.archive.org/details/servilestate00belluoft http://www.archive.org/details/servilestate00belluoft Belloc's view was that usually in class warfare the wealthy will win. I don't agree with all the religious nuance, but I have to say the look at ancient and medieval history is surprisingly good from an economic perspective. "I think overall technological change can lead to widespread social empowerment, but the most politically entrenched workers with the loudest voices are those who are least likely to benefit from it." Maybe. I think everyone tries to use it. However, I think we are at a point now where the real power in the newer high tech approaches is the power to decentralize both decision making and production. As you say, the kid in India, or the guy in rural America who starts a small business, not the factory worker. But this is another reason why I say that in these economic times, jobs are the problem, not the solution.
- grandalf 15y ago
  Interesting. I downloaded the book to my books folder on dropbox for perusal in my next reading leisure session. I think the subgroup I was trying to mention was the class who has managed to pull itself up through social organization (unions, guilds, etc.) and in the process has increased the incentive to disrupt the status quo (by making doing so more profitable). This will tend to attract disruptive technology (ubercab, khan academy, etc.)

einhverfr 15y ago

Belloc's "The Servile State" can be found at: http://www.archive.org/details/servilestate00belluoft http://www.archive.org/details/servilestate00belluoft Belloc's view was that usually in class warfare the wealthy will win. I don't agree with all the religious nuance, but I have to say the look at ancient and medieval history is surprisingly good from an economic perspective. "I think overall technological change can lead to widespread social empowerment, but the most politically entrenched workers with the loudest voices are those who are least likely to benefit from it." Maybe. I think everyone tries to use it. However, I think we are at a point now where the real power in the newer high tech approaches is the power to decentralize both decision making and production. As you say, the kid in India, or the guy in rural America who starts a small business, not the factory worker. But this is another reason why I say that in these economic times, jobs are the problem, not the solution.

grandalf 15y ago
Interesting. I downloaded the book to my books folder on dropbox for perusal in my next reading leisure session. I think the subgroup I was trying to mention was the class who has managed to pull itself up through social organization (unions, guilds, etc.) and in the process has increased the incentive to disrupt the status quo (by making doing so more profitable). This will tend to attract disruptive technology (ubercab, khan academy, etc.)