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Those are interesting numbers but they only are half of the equation. Is this a crisis depends on: how productive are Japan’s workers? Something like 80+% of A

Those are interesting numbers but they only are half of the equation. Is this a crisis depends on: how productive are Japan’s workers? Something like 80+% of America worked in agriculture in 1800 but now it’s around 10%. The information revolution has similarly made so many things incredibly more efficient. So how far does that ratio need to go before it’s actually untenable? And how much of whatever breaks do we actually need?

famouswaffles 3y ago
>Something like 80+% of America worked in agriculture in 1800 but now it’s around 10%. You're not getting it. It doesn't matter who works where. Even then, an average worker could only provide the average standard for him and two dependants. That ratio hasn't changed. Only the standard of living has. If your "solution" is to cut back the standard of living for everyone then I'm sorry but that is absolutely a societal collapse. People need to work to live in society. As long as that is true then this is an actual problem with at best very painful solutions.
- AgentOrange1234 3y ago
  I think you’re right that I’m proposing that the standard of living can be scaled back. You see this as a societal collapse, and that’s a fine take. I’m not sure it’s a collapse. I think it’s a choice. We’ve made that choice, and hey, I like my house and my car and my pool. There are benefits. But I also work my ass off. Is it really necessary? Anyway, there are many countries where folks live far less extravagantly than Japan…
  - famouswaffles 3y ago
    Any "choice" that is made suddenly and outside your control is not a choice. >Anyway, there are many countries where folks live far less extravagantly than Japan… Lol yes and they're all striving to get out of that for obvious reasons.
    - AgentOrange1234 3y ago
      Society has a collective choice to make, I mean. Obviously none of us individually have any real power here. I just think there are possible alternatives to “everyone continues to work full time regardless of how productive we become.”

famouswaffles 3y ago

>Something like 80+% of America worked in agriculture in 1800 but now it’s around 10%. You're not getting it. It doesn't matter who works where. Even then, an average worker could only provide the average standard for him and two dependants. That ratio hasn't changed. Only the standard of living has. If your "solution" is to cut back the standard of living for everyone then I'm sorry but that is absolutely a societal collapse. People need to work to live in society. As long as that is true then this is an actual problem with at best very painful solutions.

AgentOrange1234 3y ago
I think you’re right that I’m proposing that the standard of living can be scaled back. You see this as a societal collapse, and that’s a fine take. I’m not sure it’s a collapse. I think it’s a choice. We’ve made that choice, and hey, I like my house and my car and my pool. There are benefits. But I also work my ass off. Is it really necessary? Anyway, there are many countries where folks live far less extravagantly than Japan…
- famouswaffles 3y ago
  Any "choice" that is made suddenly and outside your control is not a choice. >Anyway, there are many countries where folks live far less extravagantly than Japan… Lol yes and they're all striving to get out of that for obvious reasons.
  - AgentOrange1234 3y ago
    Society has a collective choice to make, I mean. Obviously none of us individually have any real power here. I just think there are possible alternatives to “everyone continues to work full time regardless of how productive we become.”