Manufacturing in the U.S. has risen over the past decades, but the number of workers has declined along with the share of GDP. Automation, robotics, and AI will accelerate this process globally, and will similarly eat up the jobs in the service sectors, truck-driving, government, diagnostic medicine, and etc, right down the line.
What will it mean, when there is not enough work for pathologists, radiologists, middle-managers, truckers, programmers and software engineers? (not to mention, say, jurists and traffic cops)
We are going to have to get used to the idea of a "solved world"--personally, I kind of hate the prospect; I derived much of my life's meaning from the practice of medicine (pathology and family medicine); but it's also true that some people can find fulfillment in permanent retirement, and/or permanent leisure.
I've recommended here before: Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World, by Nick Bostrom.
Trump is allegedly launching his trade war in order to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. had 462,000 manufacturing job openings in January. There are also plenty of jobs in the trades – electricians, carpenters, plumbers, etc. None of these require college degrees.
After tanking the markets, Trump tooted “ONLY THE WEAK WILL FAIL” and waddled off to play golf. He’s a demented ignoranus whose clueless belligerence has cost us not only money, but our status as leader of the free world. How long before he costs us our freedom?
Most people have never heard of (or attempted to understand) the Bretton Woods system established in 1944 at the end of World War II. It effectively established the U.S. as the global hegemon, and the U.S. dollar as the global currency. In order for that system to work, we have to export our dollars (i.e. trade deficits). It is a role Great Britain had for about 250 years before us. If the U.S. is no longer in that role, another country will eventually step into it's place.
The United States minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, a number that has not increased since 2009. Raising the hourly rate for 3D jobs (“Dangerous, Dirty, and Demeaning”) currently performed by undocumented immigrants to $25 per hour plus benefits would result in a massive upheaval in the trades of construction, agriculture, and maintenance. However, it would raise the average family income by about 30 percent and unlike tariffs that place a tax burden on these families it would see them healthier and wealthier. Chances of Republicans voting for such change - less than zero.
Exactly.
Manufacturing in the U.S. has risen over the past decades, but the number of workers has declined along with the share of GDP. Automation, robotics, and AI will accelerate this process globally, and will similarly eat up the jobs in the service sectors, truck-driving, government, diagnostic medicine, and etc, right down the line.
What will it mean, when there is not enough work for pathologists, radiologists, middle-managers, truckers, programmers and software engineers? (not to mention, say, jurists and traffic cops)
We are going to have to get used to the idea of a "solved world"--personally, I kind of hate the prospect; I derived much of my life's meaning from the practice of medicine (pathology and family medicine); but it's also true that some people can find fulfillment in permanent retirement, and/or permanent leisure.
I've recommended here before: Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World, by Nick Bostrom.
Trump is allegedly launching his trade war in order to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. had 462,000 manufacturing job openings in January. There are also plenty of jobs in the trades – electricians, carpenters, plumbers, etc. None of these require college degrees.
After tanking the markets, Trump tooted “ONLY THE WEAK WILL FAIL” and waddled off to play golf. He’s a demented ignoranus whose clueless belligerence has cost us not only money, but our status as leader of the free world. How long before he costs us our freedom?
Most people have never heard of (or attempted to understand) the Bretton Woods system established in 1944 at the end of World War II. It effectively established the U.S. as the global hegemon, and the U.S. dollar as the global currency. In order for that system to work, we have to export our dollars (i.e. trade deficits). It is a role Great Britain had for about 250 years before us. If the U.S. is no longer in that role, another country will eventually step into it's place.
The United States minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, a number that has not increased since 2009. Raising the hourly rate for 3D jobs (“Dangerous, Dirty, and Demeaning”) currently performed by undocumented immigrants to $25 per hour plus benefits would result in a massive upheaval in the trades of construction, agriculture, and maintenance. However, it would raise the average family income by about 30 percent and unlike tariffs that place a tax burden on these families it would see them healthier and wealthier. Chances of Republicans voting for such change - less than zero.
This was on NPR this morning. Thomas Friedman's comments are spot-on https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5354901
Too many ''ifs'' need to happen and they won't.