I don't know if that is what they will demand, but they will certainly make demands. We saw that in the rust belt in the last presidential election. The idea that we can ignore today's workers is just not going to fly in the long run. And, so far we're still ignoring the interests of workers - other than the executive branch policy of cussing out corporations that move due to free market economics and further gutting of collective bargaining.
It won't be that long before engineers can be replaced by robots. Every thing an engineer does is programmable, even walking job sites and making observations.
indeed, something has to give, and it'll most likely be the low skill laborers who have been utterly screwed out of any chance of a livelihood.
Just think. Very few people if any will pay taxes. The corporations will have to provide the government, which also will be using mostly robots, with the money to provide everyone a living. And with open borders, everyone will come for the free money and maximum leisure. Total dystopia at last.
Welding corporations and the US government should be of special concern to ... well ... every last human being on the planet.
In Wisconsin which isn't exactly a heavily populated state so its not like the stores are filled with millions of customers. I routinely find unstocked shelves in the local Walmart and even in Woodman's which is my favorite grocery store. Part of the problem is that the area I work and live in is fairly wealthy so none of the teenagers want that kind of work since they don't really need the money. Every business pretty much starts at $12 and up around here and they still can't get enough help. If people aren't willing to work then by cheese send in the T-800s.
I have property in a small tourist trap town and know the feeling. I can't get anyone to do anything pretty much regardless of pay. Somehow the stores and restaurants keep staffed, but just try to get someone to fix a roof or rewire your dock. There, they call it "island time". "By cheese" - I like it!
In my view, it really isn't the automation's fault though. It merely exacerbates and accelerates preexisting issues within an already flawed socioeconomic system. -Meta
Agreed that ongoing education, continuous training, technological research, and creative innovation ought to all be part of the equation when it comes to coming up with a solution to this issue. I doubt elected leaders will be particular motivated to hash through exactly how to do any of that on their own though, imo, its up to we the people to figure out exactly what sorts of specific remedies we want, to spread the word to our fellow citezens about what we think will work, and to then let those elected leaders know, and to also hold them to account if they don't follow through on delivering. -Meta
Maybe true. We camped a couple of times north of the lake at Spring Valley, WI (Highland Ridge). Menomonie (pop. c. 15,000) about 15 miles east had as good a Walmart supercenter as any we've seen but it's the only one in the state we've seen besides La Crosse. That's really beautiful country, the River Road (WI 35) is phenomenal, Pepin a jewel. Every small town in Wisconsin -- my wife says we gotta move there.
When it comes to automation, money is the bottom line. We do have some awesome new technology but unless it is cost effective businesses will not use it. Here is a robot bar. I wonder if it is cost effective or just there as a novelty:
But it does make sense for it to be that way. Automation after-all, doesn't just mean that there are fewer jobs to go around, but it also means that the jobs that do exist pay less on average. Even if the automation also happens to simultaneously create a few new higher paying jobs, again, on average people are likely to be paid less, either by virtue of not having a job anymore, or via being pushed into a job which is less valuable. I mean, if it wasn't like that, there wouldn't really be as much incentive to put in place the automation in the first place... at least from an employer's perspective... Let us also not forget that unemployment rates don't exactly count those who've given up on seeking work. -Meta
Robots also don't need to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom. Just give them access to a reliable energy source and they can work around the clock 24/7 without break. Heh, those human workers better hurry and step up their game, keep up, and try to be more like robots if they want to be able to compete with them, and not get put on welfare.... amirite?...
So, you think the rate of automation today is high enough to actually depress the employment market? That would be scary. And, I do believe that the greatest stagnation is happening at the lower end of the pay scale - where automation might possibly have more of an effect.
Taxes are a bit high compared to other states but if you shop around you can find an area with low property taxes. Also, it snows........sometimes a lot. Don't get me wrong I like the state for what it is but my two favorite states are Washington and Colorado because once you have camped in the Rockies or the Great Northwest woods its hard to camp anywhere else. You have to the Dells or the flowage to find interesting topography here. I guess its a case of the grass is greener on the other side syndrome.
Last night on "60 Minutes", during a segment on Elon Musk, it was showcased that he had backed away quite a lot from using robots on one of his assembly lines (which had been almost totally automated) because they made too many mistakes and were too unreliable. So, maybe it's true now (as it has been for decades) that people should try to pursue careers that require more from their MINDS, and perhaps less purely physical motions. A person can always "take the path of least resistance", but the remuneration and rewards will be among the least also.... Why do people pursue higher education in a university environment? Why do they make themselves try harder, and to learn more and more? If not in order to rise, excel, and prosper then why do it at all? Just to be a 'bottom-feeder' and end up on welfare? Few people think like that except for clueless, aimless Liberal Arts majors, who sit around and complain about robots taking over everything....