Shouldn't Automation Be a Good Thing??

We are on the precipice of what should be one of the greatest milestones in human history. Where we cross the line where the vast majority of societies labor is just not needed to power it.

This isn't a new concept, technology has constantly made it easier for less people to do more work. But now we are almost to the point where It only takes a fraction of our population to run it.

With our present capitalistic system, profit is the only goal, and period robots are more profitable than people....

No matter how low their wages..




Well Shouldn't the fact that humans are only needed for maybe 20% of the labor required to run society , be a good thing???

Shouldn't that give us the sci fi trope of a eutopian society of leisure and entertainment???

Shouldn't the fact we have the tech, know how and manpower to feed, cloth and house every human on the planet be a good thing???



So how does capitalism work at all in a time when you just don't need employees???

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
So how does capitalism work at all in a time when you just don't need employees???

The same way it works now. If there is profit to be made the private sector will make it.

a reply to: JoshuaCox

I have always been waiting for my 'George Jetson' workday, where I get home and the robot brings me the paper and takes my shoes off, while I complain to my wife that I had a hard day.... 'I had to push two buttons!'

You think the monetary system is just going to disappear? How do you propose to account for the job loss automation will incur? No, I don't view it in a very positive light at all.

a reply to: JoshuaCox

As with any massive change in a society it will cause blood and turmoil if not planned and implemented correctly.

The impact will be huge and could lead to civil unrest.

originally posted by: seasonal
a reply to: JoshuaCox



The impact will be huge and could lead to civil unrest.

Could? It will.

We need something to do. Automation is not giving us the needed exercise nor does it provide us with the satisfaction of seeing what we created. I like building things, I do not like buying them totally built. I built homes, I like to see some result of my labor. Where are we going to get the money to buy what automation builds, look at personal debt in this society, people and the government are going farther and farther into debt, because we don't make money the old fashioned way and also because robots and automation do not pay taxes.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
So how does capitalism work at all in a time when you just don't need employees???

The same way it works now. If there is profit to be made the private sector will make it.

What prove sector jobs???


The industrial jobs all became low wage service industry jobs when automation killed manufacturing.

What happens when the service industry is gone??


There are only 2 expanding fields..

Computer programming/hardware instillation and entertainment like YouTube...


Hell how long before computers program themselves and we no longer care if it is a human cashier..

Basically your saying "I have no idea, but the free market is a magic pony that will save us!"

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
We are on the precipice of what should be one of the greatest milestones in human history. Where we cross the line where the vast majority of societies labor is just not needed to power it.

This isn't a new concept, technology has constantly made it easier for less people to do more work. But now we are almost to the point where It only takes a fraction of our population to run it.

With our present capitalistic system, profit is the only goal, and period robots are more profitable than people....

No matter how low their wages..




Well Shouldn't the fact that humans are only needed for maybe 20% of the labor required to run society , be a good thing???

Shouldn't that give us the sci fi trope of a eutopian society of leisure and entertainment???

Shouldn't the fact we have the tech, know how and manpower to feed, cloth and house every human on the planet be a good thing???



So how does capitalism work at all in a time when you just don't need employees???

In theory, people will find other employment opportunities. There will always be some measure of people who get "left behind" so to speak because they are unable to adapt or make themselves useful in a competitive economic environment. No amount of liberal handwringing and caring will prevent this from happening.

What i find most ironic about all the new technology coming on line is that it is coming from so called caring progressives out in SillyCon Valley.

IMHO the issue isn't so much technology evolving to make human labor worthless but that our educational and social system isn't evolving fast enough to prepare a newer generation workers for this reality.

Technology exacerbates the gulf between those who are skilled and those who are not. It isn't like before where if you were a dumbass in school you could easily get a job driving rivets at the car plant and still put food on the table. Nowadays, if you are a dumbass, there will be few if any opportunities for you. You won't be able to get a job as a felon. You don't have skills demanded in a high education/tech workforce. Illegal immigrants work far cheaper than you will. It is game over. This is the real problem, not so much technology per se.

originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: JoshuaCox

I have always been waiting for my 'George Jetson' workday, where I get home and the robot brings me the paper and takes my shoes off, while I complain to my wife that I had a hard day.... 'I had to push two buttons!'

In real life no company would pay you to push 2 buttons ..the point of a buisness is profit, not paying unnecessary labor.

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
Basically your saying "I have no idea, but the free market is a magic pony that will save us!"

That is not at all what I said. You fail to understand what capitalism is, it is solely the private control of industry. Someone will control these robotic workforces and as long as they are in the private sector it is capitalism.

originally posted by: SpeakerofTruth
You think the monetary system is just going to disappear? How do you propose to account for the job loss automation will incur? No, I don't view it in a very positive light at all.

The only way I think it works is unviversal salaries...

You still need an economy.... so tptb will have to fix it...but how bad of a Great Depression before they drop an outdated free market system??

a reply to: Edumakated

Technology in and of itself is a neutrality. However, when you have people who only care about their bottom line making the decisions about what is and what isn't in this society, then technology is turned into a very large problem for the common person

originally posted by: rickymouse
We need something to do. Automation is not giving us the needed exercise nor does it provide us with the satisfaction of seeing what we created. I like building things, I do not like buying them totally built. I built homes, I like to see some result of my labor. Where are we going to get the money to buy what automation builds, look at personal debt in this society, people and the government are going farther and farther into debt, because we don't make money the old fashioned way and also because robots and automation do not pay taxes.

Is debt real On a national level when your money isn't based on anything to begin with??


Money isn't real..it is smoke and mirrors.

All that physics cares about is labor, knowhow and materials.

Money has just been the lubrication.

Military might is all that really matters when concerning countries.

originally posted by: SpeakerofTruth
a reply to: Edumakated

Technology in and of itself is a neutrality. However, when you have people who only care about their bottom line making the decisions about what is and what isn't in this society, then technology is turned into a very large problem for the common person

Everyone only cares about their bottom line. As a consumer, when you are shopping for the lowest price, you only care about your bottom line. As a business, you are trying to lower your cost structure and thus only care about your bottom line.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
Basically your saying "I have no idea, but the free market is a magic pony that will save us!"

That is not at all what I said. You fail to understand what capitalism is, it is solely the private control of industry. Someone will control these robotic workforces and as long as they are in the private sector it is capitalism.

Then where do people get money when companies lose money by employing humans?


If the government is paying everyone a salary , that is closer than socialism than capitalism...everything is a mix of course but....

originally posted by: SpeakerofTruth
You think the monetary system is just going to disappear? How do you propose to account for the job loss automation will incur? No, I don't view it in a very positive light at all.

But it should be...

If we didn't hate anyone who works less than us with the power of 1000 suns. It would be a good thing.

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
Then where do people get money when companies lose money by employing humans?

If the government is paying everyone a salary , that is closer than socialism than capitalism...everything is a mix of course but....

That is not the concern of capitalism since it is not a philosophical practice. As long as industry is controlled by the private sector you still have capitalism.

a reply to: Edumakated

My whole point is technology isn't the problem..

It is our inability swap to an economic system that incorporates the fact almost no one is needed to work.


Give every American 2500 a month and have people work for extra.

Economy flourishes cause everyone is spending money.

I do not think however that some mysterious new industry will pop up and pay 80% of Americans a good wage.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: JoshuaCox
Then where do people get money when companies lose money by employing humans?

If the government is paying everyone a salary , that is closer than socialism than capitalism...everything is a mix of course but....

That is not the concern of capitalism since it is not a philosophical practice. As long as industry is controlled by the private sector you still have capitalism.

But that is way more socialist than oat of the socialist countries today...

Russia and china have private businesses and don't consider themselves capitalists.