Disappearing Jobs.

[Don M.]

I'm always curious about these parts of the country where people can supposedly make money off the government.

One of the biggest issues, IMO, is the numbers of children being born to those receiving government aid. Every time they have another kid, they qualify for another subsidy. The amount varies from State to State...anywhere from $230 to $350 a month. If they feel the need for more money, and need a pay raise, they can just have another child....which will probably be neglected, and have little hope for its future. Just a few days ago, our local news was telling about a single mom trying to raise 16 children.

These "zealots" who are fighting organizations such as Planned Parenthood are lobbying for a life of misery for the children being born into disadvantaged households.

 

[Smiling Jane]

I'm always curious about these parts of the country where people can supposedly make money off the government.

One of the biggest issues, IMO, is the numbers of children being born to those receiving government aid. Every time they have another kid, they qualify for another subsidy. The amount varies from State to State...anywhere from $230 to $350 a month. If they feel the need for more money, and need a pay raise, they can just have another child....which will probably be neglected, and have little hope for its future. Just a few days ago, our local news was telling about a single mom trying to raise 16 children.

These "zealots" who are fighting organizations such as Planned Parenthood are lobbying for a life of misery for the children being born into disadvantaged households.

Imagine thinking your only occupation is to produce children. I keep reading about high school girls who are determined to start having babies as soon as they can. I find it a strange mentality.

 

[Camper6]

Agree totally. But it will take awhile before people are 'no longer required to make things'. We talk about computer tech, but I believe one of the largest job killers in the future will be the 3d-printers. That really is sci-fi that has become reality. However, at this time it's creating a huge number of jobs and will continue to do so for at least a generation.

My grandson is 11 years old. He went out and bought a 3d printer. With his own money.

That's how far we have advanced.

But then his father writes software.

 

[SifuPhil]

I watched a PBS show last night with Ric Edelman. He's a financial guy but his talk had a distinctly futurist flavor, because he was discussing how jobs will be (and already are) changing from what we know now to things like gene splicing and organ replacement, and how we will all become "freelancers", moving from job to job instead of spending our lives at one company. He highlighted how technology is evolving faster and faster, and how within even 50 years we will be routinely living to over 100 years old, our computers will be even more pervasive in our lives, and yes, we already HAVE flying cars, which will be cheaper than maintaining the infrastructure of roadways.

 

[dpwspringer]

... Pretty soon, the only reason a person will have to get off the couch will be to go to the bathroom.

Are you suggesting the need for a multi-functional couch? LOL... all kidding aside I have often wondered what affect remote controlled TVs had on the average body weight.

 

[Don M.]

Are you suggesting the need for a multi-functional couch? LOL... all kidding aside I have often wondered what affect remote controlled TVs had on the average body weight.

It's not just the TV remote...it seems that everything is geared towards keeping people from engaging in ANY physical activity....and it shows, both in our health care costs, and the physical appearance of half our population.

 

[retiredtraveler]

......This Old House on PBS has instituted a drive to get people to go into the building trades because they can't find people to work for them. They've taken on apprentices and have contributed to some programs to teach building trades. Some of the regular workers on their show have talked about a serious shortage of workers........The work is there for anyone who is willing to push themselves to find it. Plumbers, electricians, HVAC and other building trades are great-paying jobs, but they require people to show up for work every day and make the effort.

Yup. I've watched the This Old House program where they had the apprentices. Yes, the work is there is many fields, but too many people feel it's 'beneath' them to take a blue-collar job.
I read a very disturbing stat just today in a Chicago newspaper. The paper stated (I've not researched this myself) that almost 10% of the working-age adults, who are not in jail, have some kind of felony conviction (substance abuse or any kind of criminal activity) thus limiting their ability to find a job. On the other hand, the article did say that with the improving job market, more employers were hiring people they would have rejected, out-of-hand, just a few years ago.
I guess that's the good, bad, and ugly of the job world...........

 

[Knight]

Someone has to either invent or be capable of repairing robotics & other technology that is replacing manual labor. Far fewer people needed to do those jobs.


So what we have is technology working 24/7 with no lunch breaks, no paid holidays, no hourly wage increase, no sick leave, no need for specialized clothing or even high heat in winter or cooling in summer. What we don't have is the machne paying soc. sec. or taxes. Why would a manufacturing company want to use machines when humans can do what machines do?


Gee I wonder if the increase in seniors drawing from Soc. Sec. and needing more health care will impact the disbursement of those funds. If I had more time I'd be looking for companies using nano technology to make their equipment easier to manufacture & less vulnerable to break downs.

 

[rgp]

It's not just the TV remote...it seems that everything is geared towards keeping people from engaging in ANY physical activity....and it shows, both in our health care costs, and the physical appearance of half our population.

Remote control....recliners....remote control vehicle doors & tailgates....soon to come... altogether driver-less cars.

Robo sweepers & lawnmowers.......and i felt lazy getting a riding mower, after getting arthritis...

I don't know?...progress I guess.

Gotta keep in mind that not that long ago...people shook their heads at automobiles...

 

[Sunny]

The newer cars have a ridiculous number of unnecessary things that they do for you, to keep you from moving. Mine has a lot of voice-activated stuff. You don't have to use it, of course, but it's part of the car, and you can bet I've paid for it. Example: You push the button for voice activation and then say, "Please make the front seat a little warmer." Why not just push the button right in front of you for temperature control? You're pushing a button either way. It's probably just there for the novelty value.

 

[Knight]

I'm getting a mental image of man's evolution. A frail body but well developed almost huge index finger and thumb.

 

[SifuPhil]

... So what we have is technology working 24/7 with no lunch breaks, no paid holidays, no hourly wage increase, no sick leave, no need for specialized clothing or even high heat in winter or cooling in summer. What we don't have is the machne paying soc. sec. or taxes. Why would a manufacturing company want to use machines when humans can do what machines do? ...

I'm not sure if this was a loaded question, but didn't you just list all the reasons why a company would WANT robots?

Social Security has become an under-funded scam that's going to explode soon anyhow ...

 

[Robusta]

Used to be that industry trained their own employees, now they expect the taxpayer to custom train new employees to their specifications.
Depending on the crime a felony conviction should have no bearing on hiring. Running a grinder or packing moulding sand doesn't care that you stole a car or committed assault.
Prison is supposed to be rehabilative, but society stacks the deck and doubles down on the downtrodden.
News flash here, Drug use does not always a habit or junkie make.
I've smoked dope every day of my life for the last fifty years. I had two successful careers raised 3 successful children and retired at 56 years old.
I owe only enough debt to keep my credit score above 800.
As to the guy that couldn't find help at 35 dollars an hour. I call bullshit right here and now.
Perhaps if the business owners in this nation would treat employees as a welcome and equal part of their enterprise they would find help a lot more dependable.
Every small business owner I have ever met expects their employees to work like a partner, but treat them as chattel and then wonder why?

 

[Knight]

I'm not sure if this was a loaded question, but didn't you just list all the reasons why a company would WANT robots?

Social Security has become an under-funded scam that's going to explode soon anyhow ...

That was meant as sarcasm, of course manufacturing will look for the least expense. When it comes to Soc. Sec. I don't think it's rocket science to figure out that less workforce equals less money for funding. So congress should be reviewing what is needed to assure full payment in the future. What will happen ? I don't know and don't want to speculate.

 

[HiDesertHal]

Here you go, Bea. The Amazon company housing facilities.

"Coal companies provided housing for miners and their families, docking the rent from their paychecks. Food and other necessities were sold at the company store, often in exchange for “”scrip,”” a form of compensation to miners redeemable only at the company store, which many recall charged higher prices than other local retailers. ...."

Those 2-story jobs in the foreground must be for Amazon executives.

HDH

 

[todalake]

I'm not sure if this was a loaded question, but didn't you just list all the reasons why a company would WANT robots?

Social Security has become an under-funded scam that's going to explode soon anyhow ...

Social Security is not going away. Changes yes, higher tax rate, increase max income cutoff, lower benefits, increase age to draw it. Sooner these tough decisions are made the better. Everybody on SS now will be grandfathered in. All others changes phased in over several years.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

There's going to be a significant change in the way we earn a living. It's coming. We may not be around to see it blossoms, bit IT IS COMING. If robots manufacture, ship, and deliver everything, what do we do to earn a living? If robots take all the jobs, what will humans do? Let's face it, you are not the most intelligent person in the room. I couldn't spell "intelligent" without auto-correct. So what will you and I do? How would we make a living?

 

[SifuPhil]

There's going to be a significant change in the way we earn a living. It's coming. We may not be around to see it blossoms, bit IT IS COMING. If robots manufacture, ship, and deliver everything, what do we do to earn a living? If robots take all the jobs, what will humans do? Let's face it, you are not the most intelligent person in the room. I couldn't spell "intelligent" without auto-correct. So what will you and I do? How would we make a living?

I don't think robots could take ALL the jobs - a robot can't teach T'ai-Chi.

But even if they do, so what? By that time we'll have the Universal Replacement Income and we will no longer have to work.