Posted on 09/04/2014 3:46:52 PM PDT by 6ft2inhighheelshoes
Sept 4, 2014 Statistically, minimum wage earners tend to be young, and don't have the experience or knowledge to predict the outcome of a federally mandated $15 minimum wage. If they understood the incentives of corporate investors, inventors, endemic Washington cronyism, or even basic economics, they might think twice about doing "whatever it takes".
One of the interesting things about life is that no matter how backwards our culture or government is, technology marches on, and the latest foot soldier is this: (picture at http://www.6foot2inhighheelshoes.com)
Along with automated credit card kiosks, fast food is about to change, and probably for the better, as the technology promises higher quality, more food choices and a lower price that what you would have to pay human workers. It's always worthwhile to assess the short run benefits, which accrue to lobbyists and investors of McDonald's and other fast food giants, who have already invested and tested these devices and are prepared to replace their troublesome and unpredictable workforce.
In the long run, we may all benefit, as this Business Insider story explains: "The issue of machines and job displacement has been around for centuries and economists generally accept that technology like ours actually causes an increase in employment. The three factors that contribute to this are 1. the company that makes the robots must hire new employees, 2. the restaurant that uses our robots can expand their frontiers of production which requires hiring more people, and 3. the general public saves money on the reduced cost of our burgers. This saved money can then be spent on the rest of the economy.”
replace em all with robots.
Say these people get 15 an hr. 4 dollars will go to the SEIU for dues and the rest will be taken up in taxes. That’s if they have a job. Go to a Sheetz where they have computers that take your order. They have like maybe 3 people working in the back and two taking ur money. maybe one or two more cleaning an stocking.
I worked for Minimum wage back in the 80s. It was good for me til I found another job that paid better. Plus taxes and stuff didn’t eat you alive like they do now.
It's not just the fast food and low-skill jobs that are going to be replaced by robots. This video makes the argument that essentially all of our current jobs will be replaced by automation.
As an example (from the video) that makes a strong argument, driverless vehicles don't have to be perfect, they simply have to be statistically less accident-prone than human-operated cars. That tipping point isn't decades away. Many people don't realize we are only a few years away from it.
I just bought a car this year, replacing one I'd had for about 10 years, as I tend to hang onto them for a while (something I think is common among Freepers, I'd bet). This car I just bought might be the last car I ever own that isn't driverless (in some respects). And if you think you can simply still hold onto that 15 year old, reliable beater come the year 2022, just contemplate how the insurance for your 'old-tech' car might be so cost prohibitive as to render it too costly to keep on the road.
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