From: Erik Reuter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Killer Bs Discussion <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Race to the Bottom Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2004 07:39:11 -0500
On Fri, Mar 12, 2004 at 01:25:50AM -0600, The Fool wrote:
> Within the next twenty or so years, almost all jobs that are done now > will be done by technology. The unemployment rate will balloon as we > approach the singularity. There will be no service jobs. Machines > will do better work cheaper with less errors. There will be no > White-Collar jobs. Technology will be cheaper, faster, better. > > The Economy will collapse and their will be two kinds of people: Rich > people who own everything, and poor people who own nothing. What > keeps the rich people from deciding to be rid of the poor people > altogether?
I suspect you are too optimistic by far on the technology front and too pessimistic on the social front.
Agreed. The trend has always been that new job categories appear as technology advances and eliminates older ones. Or that jobs change over time as technology is integrated into the workplace. Ten years ago, a secretary/administrative assistant might have had to know how to use a fax machine with multicast capabilities, whereas now they would need to know how to do a mail merge to email.
But even if you are right about technology, then why don't you use your political activism to support programs for upward economic mobility for the poor and "equitable" redistribution of wealth? Free trade is not the problem -- it is helping our rapid technological advance, as you alluded to in your first paragraph. The important problem to solve would appear to be how to equitably divide the fruits of that progress.
Excellent advice. Action is much more satisfying than complaining futily about life's injustices.
Jon
Le Blog: http://zarq.livejournal.com
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