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Sure there are always narratives at play, but the reality is never really either or. Automation is an objective trend that we have to contend with. Vending mach
by disambiguation 2y ago
Sure there are always narratives at play, but the reality is never really either or. Automation is an objective trend that we have to contend with. Vending machines for example are a menace that threaten to make all retail workers obsolete. I think we still have a long road ahead to a fully automated utopia, but as we become more efficient at converting labor into wealth, we need to get more serious about the problem of fair resource distribution.
- cudgy 2y agoAutomating away retail workers is one thing that has real implications for those workers, but those are low-skilled, low paying jobs that did not require years of training and formal education in many cases. Automating away high tech jobs and other high skill jobs that require significant investments on the part of the workers in human capital along with the great impact these jobs have to local communities due to the higher income and entrepreneurial affects is even more destructive. What incentive do US youth (and youth around the world for that matter) have to invest in these jobs? How does the US reverse the trend if they don’t invest or provide opportunities for their own citizens? What jobs remain if this plays out to its predictable conclusion? How will there be a functional economy if only a few make money and have the money? How will societies prevent revolt when so many people aren’t participating in the economy and feel effectively nationless? Again, it’s about short-term vision from the current leaders without much thought about the long-term implications. Citizens are going to have to wake up or the majority are going to be amongst the homeless wandering around with nothing to do.