I will say, though, that once automation is flourishing, we won't really need so many middle class people.
Why do you think that? Automation should replace the low paid workers.
Well, there's still a need that will be present, but if automation builds up then it'll leave more room for leisure time, which is how we get various types of innovation. We should all want more leisure time and although it might seem counter-intuitive to promote entrepreneurial ideas while also advocating for more leisure time, I can assure you it isn't. What we really want is to maintain production and basic tiers of service. We can compensate to varying extents in both of those areas with automation, but there will be gaps left for at least a few decades. Ultimately, this should be pushing people more toward innovation in areas that thrive on Entrepreneurship: Entertainment, Technology, Finance, Advertisement (which is, like it or not, crucial to Capitalism), Medicine and eventually Spirituality. I'm sure I'm I'm just scratching the surface too.
I think it's helpful to reframe the "they'll take our jobs" vantage point of automation. Not having a surplus of jobs isn't exactly what we should fear. We're seeing a symptom, not a cause. Instead, our problem is more like being invaded slowly under the guise of "immigration". That's what's really threatening unemployment rates. We need automation for leisure time, which increases contentment, peer bonding and innovation, among other things. It certainly isn't a bad thing... unless, of course, your country is being invaded. Just don't forget we still need programmers, maintenance guys and more things that won't immediately come to me.
You won't get leisure time with more automation. The trend has been to automate more while forcing workers to work longer hours for less pay. This trend will continue unless stopped and don't think for a second labor unions are a solution.....
No, I think encouraging entrepreneurship is the solution. But, yes, you sure as hell will get more leisure time with more automation. You just don't like what that means. What are you afraid of, a machine being more competent than you? No one is forcing anyone to work more hours for less pay. People are accepting that and, instead of just selling their homes and moving to a rural area, are continuing to keep themselves locked in to a situation where they hardly benefit.
You aren't a victim. The world isn't against you. You can become greater than your faults. Making your own money for yourself isn't a difficult thing to do and you pretending machines will replace you (it seems this is what you're doing) only makes you look incompetent. No machine can do what I do and I'm certain of that. Aren't you?
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