46 ms·

If you're the age I think you are (mid-30s), then during your grandfather's time most women didn't work and many racial minorities were barred from many jobs an

If you're the age I think you are (mid-30s), then during your grandfather's time most women didn't work and many racial minorities were barred from many jobs and forms of housing. If you cut the labor supply in half or more, then wages naturally go up because demand doesn't change that much per capita. That said I completely agree with you about everything else. I think the US needs to firm up its social safety net (hopefully through UBI, though I'm not hopeful) ASAP. I don't think AI will take over the world or even remove all jobs, but it will remove enough in our lifetime that we'll have a crisis of low-skilled employees out of work who just won't be able to transition into a job that pays well enough to pay four healthcare, housing, and transportation. Housing itself is a really hard problem too for various other complicated reasons.

999900000999 2y ago
The biggest issue is zoning and other restrictions on construction. Back in the 1950s, it was much easier to build. Now it takes much longer and it's more expensive to just get permits. It's kinda wacky to think we're still using housing stock from 100 years ago. New construction is rare. A middle class person, say a Firefighter needs to be able to buy a home where he works. Many city workers in California have to ride long Metrolink rides just to get to work. This is also a safety concern. Do you really want a subway conductor to have to get up at 5am to get to their 9am to 6pm shift? This has been an issue for decades, but it's coming to a head now.
- Karrot_Kream 2y ago
  100%. Our local bus system can't hire operators because they're priced out of the area for housing, so all operators have to come from a 4 hour Metrolink ride away.
  - dventimi 2y ago
    100%. Incidentally (obviously) that also applies to teachers, restaurant workers, and others who aren't fortunate enough to be among the tech Eloi.

999900000999 2y ago

The biggest issue is zoning and other restrictions on construction. Back in the 1950s, it was much easier to build. Now it takes much longer and it's more expensive to just get permits. It's kinda wacky to think we're still using housing stock from 100 years ago. New construction is rare. A middle class person, say a Firefighter needs to be able to buy a home where he works. Many city workers in California have to ride long Metrolink rides just to get to work. This is also a safety concern. Do you really want a subway conductor to have to get up at 5am to get to their 9am to 6pm shift? This has been an issue for decades, but it's coming to a head now.

Karrot_Kream 2y ago
100%. Our local bus system can't hire operators because they're priced out of the area for housing, so all operators have to come from a 4 hour Metrolink ride away.
- dventimi 2y ago
  100%. Incidentally (obviously) that also applies to teachers, restaurant workers, and others who aren't fortunate enough to be among the tech Eloi.