Unfortunately, humans always resist new ideas and change, at least initially. Then there is luddite factor which is wedded to doing things the 'old' way.
It is too late to close the barn doors, the horse has bolted. But this does not mean we can't do anything about it. In fact, the restoration of people's means of livelihood can be achieved, at least in part, by utilising advances in production technologies to bring down the cost of living.
The problem is the Industrial Age mentality which sees everything through the job/profit filter.
Robert's perpetuates the Industrial Age mentality about jobs.
It is true that jobs are disappearing but blaming it on the third world is incredibly short-sighted. You only have to visit a modern factory and realize that automation is here, and it is just the beginning. Experts like Rifkin suggest that industry has not fully embraced automation (probably for fear of community backlash) and automation remains at about 5% of what is possible. What will happen to jobs when automation moves to 50% or 100%?
Just about any job you care to name can be replaced by smart robots and intelligent computers either right now, or in the very near future.
The Industrial Age mentality sees this is a threat to jobs, the Information Age mentality sees it as an opportunity.
If he cast aside his Industrial Age mentality for a moment he would see that this is the solution to bringing back manufacturing. Why have fully robotised factories overseas, when you can have them on US soil and save the cost of transportation?
The real problem, as I continue to point out, is not job loss: the problem is how to more equitably share the productivity gains of centuries of progress.
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What terms have got you confused?
Agree, but only in an ideal world situation.
Unfortunately, humans always resist new ideas and change, at least initially. Then there is luddite factor which is wedded to doing things the 'old' way.
It is too late to close the barn doors, the horse has bolted. But this does not mean we can't do anything about it. In fact, the restoration of people's means of livelihood can be achieved, at least in part, by utilising advances in production technologies to bring down the cost of living.
The problem is the Industrial Age mentality which sees everything through the job/profit filter.
Robert's perpetuates the Industrial Age mentality about jobs.
It is true that jobs are disappearing but blaming it on the third world is incredibly short-sighted. You only have to visit a modern factory and realize that automation is here, and it is just the beginning. Experts like Rifkin suggest that industry has not fully embraced automation (probably for fear of community backlash) and automation remains at about 5% of what is possible. What will happen to jobs when automation moves to 50% or 100%?
Just about any job you care to name can be replaced by smart robots and intelligent computers either right now, or in the very near future.
The Industrial Age mentality sees this is a threat to jobs, the Information Age mentality sees it as an opportunity.
If he cast aside his Industrial Age mentality for a moment he would see that this is the solution to bringing back manufacturing. Why have fully robotised factories overseas, when you can have them on US soil and save the cost of transportation?
The real problem, as I continue to point out, is not job loss: the problem is how to more equitably share the productivity gains of centuries of progress.