General Discussion

21st Century Poet

(255 posts)

86. Finally, somebody who speaks some sense.

Sun Mar 20, 2016, 10:57 AM

Mar 2016

It is shocking to me to see how Luddite many people here are. Some people seem to feel entitled to a job they didn't create in a company they didn't build and to which they are not responsible for. Workers are not owed a job.

While respecting workers' rights is very important , one also has to admit that there are and have been very many jobs which have become obsolete over time, everything from the lamplighter to the elevator operator. Humans have been innovating since the dawn of time. Technology makes tasks easier and that means it requires less manual labour. You can argue that workers deserve better training opportunities, better wages and good severance packages but you cannot fight or un-invent technology (which is also created by workers).

None of the little luxuries we take for granted today would be possible without automation and improvements in technology. Cars destroyed a huge industry based around horses, carriages and that sort of thing but, honestly, what can you do?

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Fast-Food CEO invests in machines because screw the employees [View all] EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 OP

Hey, those employees who lose their jobs can just get one of the multitude of new jobs the TPP and djean111 Mar 2016 #1

They'll have to move to SE Asia if they want those minimum wage jobs. EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #5

As I recall, under the first Clinton oligarchy they were called "good-paying jobs of the future." highprincipleswork Mar 2016 #55

The jobs we Millennials were told were would have if we just... Odin2005 Mar 2016 #68

I don't blame you. Join the club. highprincipleswork Mar 2016 #75

Great! tazkcmo Mar 2016 #2

He won't see either me or any of my money at one of his restaurants hobbit709 Mar 2016 #3

More proof Republicans have no idea of how the economy works -none Mar 2016 #4

Exactly. And this is why strong worker protections are so critical. EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #9

And that is why we need Bernie and to drag the Democratic party back to Center and Center Left. -none Mar 2016 #27

Even Henry Ford understood this almost 100 years ago. Tracer Mar 2016 #52

wow wobble Mar 2016 #6

In a world of robot-workers, who can afford to buy products? DetlefK Mar 2016 #7

Maybe once he gets rid of all the humans EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #13

And start the cycle all over again. -none Mar 2016 #29

Lather, rinse, repeat. mac56 Mar 2016 #31

Everything becomes dirt cheap. Oneironaut Mar 2016 #14

But this would mean a massive overhaul of the way unemployment is treated. DetlefK Mar 2016 #20

Welcome to the problems of capitalism. Xolodno Mar 2016 #37

You cannot force economic growth and the creation of job-openings. DetlefK Mar 2016 #57

That's not forcing economic growth... Xolodno Mar 2016 #60

Could be more like the problems of technology The2ndWheel Mar 2016 #80

Culling the herd, so to speak Autumn Colors Mar 2016 #39

This is exactly the "internal contradictions" of Capitalism Marx talked about 150 years ago. Odin2005 Mar 2016 #71

It's not because 'screw the employees.' 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #8

I get $968/mo. on SS. I couldn't afford a new car no matter what. hobbit709 Mar 2016 #34

On the side of technology and modernisation 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #40

"You can probably afford a bicycle" Kittycat Mar 2016 #65

Unintended consequences ryan_cats Mar 2016 #10

Wow. EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #15

I am ryan_cats Mar 2016 #21

WTF? EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #26

You are not alone in your assessment. -none Mar 2016 #32

You leave one question unanswered. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #35

Costco pays its workers a living wage. Walmart does not brush Mar 2016 #41

What you're describing is otherwise known as a "race to the bottom." trotsky Mar 2016 #64

Ryan Cats is saying some important and realistic things. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #30

Costco pays its workers a living wage. Walmart does not brush Mar 2016 #42

Yes, but why is Costco thriving? 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #46

Costco is likely already using as much automation as it practically can. Note that... PoliticAverse Mar 2016 #50

It's thriving because of better, innovative management . . . brush Mar 2016 #54

Also.. Kittycat Mar 2016 #70

Yes, yes, yes. Henry Ford did the same so his workers could buy his cars. brush Mar 2016 #73

Costco pays its workers a living wage. Walmart does not brush Mar 2016 #45

The Magical World Where McDonald's Pays $15 an Hour? It's Australia trotsky Mar 2016 #18

We really shouldn't belong to the same political Party. We really shouldn't. nt stillwaiting Mar 2016 #19

You ryan_cats Mar 2016 #36

Tell you what. mac56 Mar 2016 #38

I'm confused how you align with Sanders. Kittycat Mar 2016 #72

There are a few "Sanders supporters" here who can't maintain the gimmick n/m ProudToBeBlueInRhody Mar 2016 #82

Prove It ProfessorGAC Mar 2016 #53

$21/Hr? Not all that different at checkout Kittycat Mar 2016 #69

Your slip has been showing for A LONG TIME ProudToBeBlueInRhody Mar 2016 #81

Wrong website Marrah_G Mar 2016 #87

Your Colon begs you edhopper Mar 2016 #11

That too. EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #16

Everyone wants more for less The2ndWheel Mar 2016 #12

The essanse of capitalist morality Tom Rinaldo Mar 2016 #17

Humans Need Not Apply (must watch video) ghostsinthemachine Mar 2016 #22

Foolish humans. mac56 Mar 2016 #23

Thread over! Initech Mar 2016 #25

Trump knows that the blame lies not with American CEO's but with Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese and pampango Mar 2016 #24

Yeah but what is he gonna do with yuiyoshida Mar 2016 #67

Nobody's going to run a business as a charity to give people jobs, though Recursion Mar 2016 #28

Finally, somebody who speaks some sense. 21st Century Poet Mar 2016 #86

I still remember going into places that had human elevator operators. n/t PoliticAverse Mar 2016 #33

It really doesn't matter if the employees are paid 50 cents per hour Major Nikon Mar 2016 #47

Who will be left to buy their shitty burgers? titaniumsalute Mar 2016 #43

I'm pretty sure their employees aren't a significant source of revenue for them... PoliticAverse Mar 2016 #51

Well my point was more of a grande statement... titaniumsalute Mar 2016 #58

And here I was boycotting them because their food is shitty Major Nikon Mar 2016 #44

I'd boycott them but I already wasn't eating there. Erose999 Mar 2016 #48

Another prediction come true from Idiocracy n2doc Mar 2016 #49

Y'all going to be singing the same tune when renewable energy eliminates coal miners? MindPilot Mar 2016 #56

Hey Andy! Who's gonna sell Carl's Jr./Hardee's hamburgers to the robots? muntrv Mar 2016 #59

Robots are the future. It's coming. leftyladyfrommo Mar 2016 #61

Its not a matter of if they will lose their jobs, its when. Xolodno Mar 2016 #62

Train for what? peabody Mar 2016 #90

Just as the prophecy of "Idiocracy" predicted years ago... GreatGazoo Mar 2016 #63

Here's the question that I always have when I see stuff like this. WillowTree Mar 2016 #66

That would obviously be better EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #78

Which jobs are likely to be around 5 years from now? The2ndWheel Mar 2016 #84

order taking is a 'trouble spot' fastfood could improve with a machine. Sunlei Mar 2016 #74

Because why interact with another human being when you could tap buttons on a computer? EmperorHasNoClothes Mar 2016 #79

for 'fastfood' yes, especially drive through & online. Sunlei Mar 2016 #85

If I'm eating fast food SickOfTheOnePct Mar 2016 #89

GOP would want him as president with an attitude like that. Jackie Wilson Said Mar 2016 #76

IMHO Puzder is just using this as a fearmongering tactic. Gormy Cuss Mar 2016 #77

Wage costs are an incentive to seek automation or workarounds 1939 Mar 2016 #83

Government does not drive up the cost of labor, fuck Carl's Jr. Rex Mar 2016 #88