Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

We’re heading into a jobless future, no matter what the government does
Washington Post ^ | July 21, 2014 | Vivek Wadhwa

Posted on 07/23/2014 11:33:45 AM PDT by C19fan

In an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers revived a debate I’d had with futurist Ray Kurzweil in 2012 about the jobless future.

He echoed the words of Peter Diamandis, who says that we are moving from a history of scarcity to an era of abundance. Then he noted that the technologies that make such abundance possible are allowing production of far more output using far fewer people.

On all this, Summers is right. Within two decades, we will have almost unlimited energy, food, and clean water; advances in medicine will allow us to live longer and healthier lives; robots will drive our cars, manufacture our goods, and do our chores.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education; History; Society
KEYWORDS: automation; future; robots
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last
Another futurist claiming most of the current workforce will not be needed as automation will take care of that. His future is straight out of Roddenberry's Star Trek. No need to work to make money so everybody just explores their interests. Just keep in mind the Industrial Revolution was one of man's greatest achievements but that change was devastating. The Luddites were in a sense right. The machines turned what was once skilled labor into low skill factory jobs with low wages to match. Because of the Industrial Revolution millions of British and Europeans immigrated overseas during the 19th century. British for the first half or 3/4 of the 19th century got shorter. It took fifty to 75 years for the benefits to trickle down to the masses in the form of higher wages and living standards; just in time to prove Marx wrong. I do not see why the same thing will happen here. Decades of change that will throw older workers into turmoil, we are already seeing this, but generations in the future might be celebrating the final outcome.
1 posted on 07/23/2014 11:33:45 AM PDT by C19fan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: C19fan

The government CAN do something.

In addition to repealing Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, Sarbanes-Oxley, and reining in out of control agencies such as the EPA and permitting more oil and gas drilling, the Federal Government could create tens of millions of private sector jobs by lowering or better yet completely abolishing corporate income taxes.


2 posted on 07/23/2014 11:38:08 AM PDT by Trapped Behind Enemy Lines
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

In before, ‘bring jobs back now. Just sayin.’.’


3 posted on 07/23/2014 11:38:12 AM PDT by deadrock (I am someone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

These futurists are nuts. I see the fall of Rome, they see Star Trek.
Our absolute reliance on technology and electricity has made our society more vulnerable to destruction than any in history. Just look at what the simple breakdown of roads did to Europe after Rome. Think of a world where electricity stopped overnight.


4 posted on 07/23/2014 11:39:28 AM PDT by Viennacon (Rebuke the Repuke!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: deadrock

I’ll say “bring jobs back now, Just sayin”.

The new apple (6 I believe) is ramping up for production.

Millions are due to be produced.

In China.


5 posted on 07/23/2014 11:40:11 AM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2013)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

Check my tagline.


6 posted on 07/23/2014 11:41:10 AM PDT by Steely Tom (How do you feel about robbing Peter's robot?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network

Throughout all of human history, there have been jobs and tasks for the people. Without that, I guarantee mass murder, even if every need is catered to. Humans need to work, to have purpose in society.


7 posted on 07/23/2014 11:42:22 AM PDT by Viennacon (Rebuke the Repuke!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: C19fan
B.S.

I hope there's enough people around who know that

1) the first step to our future is cutting the poverty-creating $4 trillion government spending and taxes by at least 80% and get them out of meddling with our economic and commercial affairs.

2) the next step that naturally flows from small government is the rise of the wealth-creating free market economy that has always been the basis of our superior standard of living for the average person.

The key is cutting government. As Reagan once said (a truth that has not nor will ever change), "Government isn't the solution, government is the problem."

8 posted on 07/23/2014 11:42:23 AM PDT by PapaNew (Freedom always wins the debate in the forum of ideas)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

The more I read these articles and see what is happening in the U.S., the more I think Kurt Vonnegut’s “Player Piano” was prophetic.


9 posted on 07/23/2014 11:44:54 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

I completely agree. All the jobs will be taken by all the illegal aliens.


10 posted on 07/23/2014 11:46:01 AM PDT by Vinylly (?%)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: C19fan
On all this, Summers is right. Within two decades, we will have almost unlimited energy, food, and clean water; advances in medicine will allow us to live longer and healthier lives; robots will drive our cars, manufacture our goods, and do our chores.

Not unless the EPA,NSA, IRS, DEA, NLRB and almost all of the other government alphabet agencies are defunded and consigned to the oblivion they deserve. JMHO!

11 posted on 07/23/2014 11:46:47 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannoli. Take it to the Mattress.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: C19fan
The machines turned what was once skilled labor into low skill factory jobs with low wages to match.

The machines also turned unskilled labor into skilled labor with higher wages to match.

Obama blamed the loss of jobs on machines like ATMs replacing bank tellers. So who designs and makes the ATM machines? Increased automation actually creates the need for more skilled workers and less need for the unskilled. Our highest unemployment levels are for those having the least education.


13 posted on 07/23/2014 11:59:31 AM PDT by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cringing Negativism Network

The problem with making the iPhone here in the US is that it would cost several times as much to make and it would price out most consumers. Few would pay $1200 for it. In addition to considering our trade policies we have to realistically look at how to make labor cheaper here. Not by lowering wages but all the associated costs with hiring and operating a business here.

The case for overseas manufacturing and labor is too strong right now. If I needed a team of programmers I would have to look at India as an option.


14 posted on 07/23/2014 12:05:16 PM PDT by ilgipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: deadrock

one minute fifty nine seconds


15 posted on 07/23/2014 12:05:53 PM PDT by Mr. Peabody
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Peabody

A new personal best.


16 posted on 07/23/2014 12:09:00 PM PDT by deadrock (I am someone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: ilgipper

Don’t bring facts to the table. It confuses trolls.


17 posted on 07/23/2014 12:10:29 PM PDT by deadrock (I am someone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: ilgipper

All I am saying is, currently we have destroyed millions of American jobs, sent those jobs to China, where the factories were re-assembled, and now all of those jobs are in China.

This is not a success story.

America is losing. This is not just about Apple.

We are running a MASSIVE trade deficit with China.

Massive.


18 posted on 07/23/2014 12:12:07 PM PDT by Cringing Negativism Network (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html#2013)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: C19fan

You can do two types of work: work with your hands, or work with your brain.

The Industrial Revolution removed many of the first kind of work.

The Information Revolution is taking care of the second.

So what’s next? What jobs are there going to be for the simpletons of the world to do? And when they are idle, well we know what they say about idle hands.


19 posted on 07/23/2014 12:13:10 PM PDT by dfwgator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ilgipper

“If I needed a team of programmers I would have to look at India as an option.”

I wouldn’t. They charge only half of what the US charges and take 4 times as long to do 1/10th the quality of work.

“Ve r viry solly. Dat is not in da requirements.”


20 posted on 07/23/2014 12:14:12 PM PDT by CodeToad (Arm Up! They Are!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson