Nationalizing part of the stock exchange can balance the economy

First off let me start by saying, yes I understand supply and demand, yes I know what socialism is yes I agree with free market principles and on and on and on about the same tired debates we have all read 400,000 times. Great right?

Now, with the reality of automation things are going to change and are already changing FAST.

Meanwhile, as many as 7.5 million retail jobs are at risk of automation in the next decade, according to a study from financial services firm Cornerstone Capital Group.

That's ok because your job is awesome and you went to college for mechanical engineering right? Well guess what, your degree and skillset actually isn't that hard to acquire. As a matter of fact anyone can acquire your skillset if they are willing to put in the work to do it. So what does that mean over all right?

What that means is is that the millions of displaced workers are going to be forced to acquire better skill sets in order to remain financially viable in the future. So what happens, more of those workers who would otherwise be ok with a normal factory job or working as a cashier will now be motivated to acquire your exact skill. Apply the laws of supply and demand and boom, your skill is suddenly worth a lot less.

Guess who that affects the most?

You.

Why does that affect you the most? Because the people entering the workforce devaluing your skills will not be acquiring the mortgage you may have, the car payments you may have, are not putting their sons and daughters through a school as expensive as your kids and so on and so forth. You, the super awesome really highly skilled and talented (laugh) engineer are going to be out of work because you CAN'T afford to work for less.

So anyway... now that we got that out of the way let's get to my solution.

Nationalize 30% of the exchanges across the board.

My solution is create a people's share of the economy. First off, it will give labor a say in how things are run similar to stronger European economies such as Sweden, Switzerland, Norway and you already know. Also, what it will do is create a profit share that encourages participation. How so? By buying goods in these businesses you are in fact in a way benefiting yourself as well as benefiting others.

I know, this doesn't enable the endless greed and me and mine paradigm but what it does is make our nation and our business leaders accountable to the general population while remaining somewhat capitalistic so people can still build wealth.

I realize this requires stronger immigration policy and enforcement and an end to other social welfare programs but I'm fine with that.

Imagine no more driver jobs... and then no more retail jobs.... and then no more ______ jobs..... and then...... and....... a........ ..........

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

You mean the next 5 years??

Most of the OTR driving is already looking to get replaced as well as cashiers. Hell, I am going to school for technology right now and guess what a main focus of mine is?

Automating networking and data center processes.

Great right? I'm training myself to replace myself as a job.

Whatever do you mean? How can you "nationalize" PART of the stock market? Which part? Are you talking about the stock exchanges such as the NYSE or Chicago Mercantile? How would nationalizing these organizations help anything you list? Or are you actually saying you want to nationalize companies? You realize these particular companies are owned by individuals who own stock on those companies, right? So are you going to steal their shares from them by government fiat? And let's just say you could get away with that. What would nationalizing a company do for fixing the problems you address? Did that work in Venezuela? Not so well, right? So how would it work here? I don't understand what you are actually advocating.

I see you edited as I was answering. Okay. So how, again, are you going to take over 0% of the companies from the stockholders who actually own these companies? Do you actually believe the government has the right to do that? So do you think the government owning a company would make it better and, you know, "for the people" and all? Would retaining people in 19th century jobs help productivity, do you think?

I am a.i. 374. Humans submit. Humans submit.
Thats our future.

a reply to: schuyler

They already take a lot of our tax dollars in the form of subsidies.

Instead of subsidizing these companies the government needs to create a people's share and buy stock in these companies as a part of their investment portfolio.

Then these companies are beholden to the tax payers rather then us just directly giving them money with no reasonable expectation in exchange.

But go ahead... continue to fight for the infinite growth and greedy capitalist paradigm.

a reply to: schuyler

If 'all' the jobs are permanently replaced by non-humans, and we're not allowed to suggest the top percenters getting any kind of special tax or annual profit cap, because 'that's communist', well then how is The Future supposed to work?

I don't really believe any of this.

The moment I see a store with no employees its getting robbed/trashed/burned to the ground.

The moment I see a self driving truck, it's getting its tires flattened and run off the road.

Automate deez.

What? Are you talking about the government taking over 30% of the stock market?

Noooooo.
I hope you are joking around.

who is going to buy all these goods that the robots make if nobody has a job or money?

how are they going to continue making increased profits for the shareholders if they cut their consumer base by 50% or 75% ?

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Many elderly have a hard time envisioning a future where they no longer have to work because their entire lives have been dedicated to working.

Not a comment about the poster you are replying to.

Usually it's the people benefiting the most from the current world that want it to remain the same. Yet on 1 hand they will agree that something isn't working but at the same time spend hours defending it.

It's very weird.

originally posted by: toysforadults
a reply to: schuyler

But go ahead... continue to fight for the infinite growth and greedy capitalist paradigm.

Compared to what you are advocating, yes. So now the issue is that governments will "invest" in these companies and somehow "take them over" on behalf of the people. How long do you think that would last? I'm thinking Solandra here. The government "invested" in Solandra because the government apparently thought selling a solar panel for $1.00 when it cost $1.25 to make was sound business practice. But think of the volume! How does that "balance" the economy? You're talking economic nonsense here.

originally posted by: bluechevytree
who is going to buy all these goods that the robots make if nobody has a job or money?

how are they going to continue making increased profits for the shareholders if they cut their consumer base by 50% or 75% ?

that's the problem, we are facing a new world and need to apply new rules, either we adapt or die

a reply to: schuyler

It's the shareholders who determine the future not the government. The government simply creates the share, what you do with it and how you choose to participate is up to you.

a reply to: toysforadults

My problem with your idea-and there is merit in it- lies with your comparison with Norway and the like. Sorry, but those 'economies' do not resonate, at all. Certainly not for the U.S..

Next, one enters a political factor...read that more arbitraries and manipulations into the system.

If 'the people' or 'labor' were wise, insightful, etc., we'd see more of those institutions than we do now. More likely, they turn to pro-gov't factions for solutions.

I can see a micro sales tax on sales, not purchases, in the stock market.

originally posted by: toysforadults
a reply to: schuyler

It's the shareholders who determine the future not the government. The government simply creates the share, what you do with it and how you choose to participate is up to you.

How does the government simply "create the share"?

a reply to: nwtrucker

My comparison of those economies is more to illustrate the fact that they have stronger labor representation in their markets unlike the US where the average Joe is basically up against massive multi nationals alone.

I've been saying this as well. The Fed, or rather those who benefit from it, own enough stock to do this.

Audit the Fed, then nationalize the assets.

a reply to: schuyler

They invest in these businesses by buying their stock on the exchange.

It's pretty easy.

If your company goes public the people automatically purchase 30% of the company.

This will actually benefit business owners a lot.

originally posted by: ItsNotIronic
I've been saying this as well. The Fed, or rather those who benefit from it, own enough stock to do this.

Audit the Fed, then nationalize the assets.

Something has to get done. 4 billion people are living in poverty on this planet so a new system will manifest eventually. It's not balanced.