The Robots Are Coming, And They Are Replacing Warehouse Workers And Fast Food Employees

TEC ^ | 05/24/2014 | Michael Snyder

[The Working Man]

When you replace a human worker with a robot, you solve a whole bunch of problems. Robots never take a day off, they never get tired, they never get sick, they never complain, they never show up late, they never waste time on the Internet and they always do what you tell them to do.

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They also DON’T earn a salary and they DON’T purchase the product you or anyone else produces. That means they are also a dead end on the Economic ‘Circle-of-life’.

[ClearCase_guy]

While I would never want to force any particular lifestyle on anyone, I suspect that if federal lands were set aside in a new form of land grant, with the expectation that people would farm, churn butter, spin wool -- not like the Amish, but with decent modern technology produced in robot-staffed factories -- I suspect quite a few people would choose that lifestyle.

Famine wouldn't be a concern. New tractors could be delivered from the factory if needed (not necessarily "free" but somewhat like an EBT card). People would be expected to work, but they'd have some purpose and control over their lives.

It wouldn't be an attractive choice for everyone, but the alternative may be to live in a high-rise, in a bad neighborhood, watch bad TV, and wait for the monthly check.

I see the vast majority of people getting two basic choices: live in the ghetto, or live on a farm. And right now, the farm choice isn't exactly available, but laws could shift to make that a viable choice. This was discussed in England in the early 20th century under the slogan "three acres and a cow". It was pushed by GK Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc under the name of Distributism --an economic system designed as Christian Economics.

I'm not saying it's flawless, but with the rise of automation, people really do have to think about "What will I do?"

[cripplecreek]

Sounds like a union rally in here this morning doesn’t it?

[VietVet]

Ever read Vonnegut’s “Player Piano”? Or Simac’s “How To”?

[nathanbedford]

I am not a Luddite and do not believe that the solution lies in the destruction of technology or even in control or direction of the technology which should be untrammeled as much as possible in a free-market.

I think the solution can come from undoing what government has done, from dealing with some of the unintended consequences of government solutions which have distorted the culture as it has distorted the marketplace. The first place I would start is with the privatization and rationalization of the education establishment. Until we can produce an educated product that can contribute to a technological age, we are going to see a society with greater and greater distortions and ever greater and greater demands for government intervention to undo those distortions.

I believe that most of the distortions come from government and not from the marketplace but the electorate, guided by the media and academia, will no doubt blame the marketplace and turn to the government for relief.

[jonrick46]

I can imagine the job where you will make sure the robot is doing what it is supposed to. Those pesky robots will make a real mess of things if they can.

Actually, I see robot arms failing to pick up things, dropping things and going into program lock up after power surges and outages. I see cases not being sealed properly, conveyer jam ups and critical production pieces wearing out. This is automation in a world made as perfect as possible. A free roving robot will work in an ever changing, imperfect world. What kind of chaos will that robot create?

[cll]

For the government this will be easy: tax corporations for each robot-hour to support welfare for idle humans.

[Mark was here]

We already have robots. They’re called Democrat voters. They vote Democrat over, and over, and over -— as long as they keep getting their government benefits that’s what they do.
What better definition of a robot is there?

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Yep, I have always thought they were giving up their humanity, when they react and vote like robots.

[GladesGuru]

Ultimately, the question of robots is merely a smaller subset of “How will production be distributed?” - a question at the core cause of more wars and revolutions than any religion.

When wool was more widely available thanks to power sources being harnessed to weaving machines, an early form of automation occurred - and society was roiled and eventually emerged far better off.

History does repeat, and this time can we do a better job of transitioning?

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

Crazy question just crossed my mind, will my robotic bodyguard have to have a gun permit and be licensed to kill?

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When he saves your life don’t for get to tell him “Domo Arigato, Mr Roboto.”

[GladesGuru]

“With their wonderful educations, maybe they can be “sex workers.”

Gives a whole new meaning to the term, “entry level job.””

Disney’s Animatronic Lab could have outdone the “Stepford wife” long ago.

[Cvengr]

At least a robot won’t spit in your food.

Instead it squirts 10D40 into the food from its oil can.

[Cvengr]

Good time to become a Robotics Engineer.

[GladesGuru]

Regarding post #34, I suggest interested FRiends email to their gubment persons not only the post, but rather more. Go to SHEMITTA, FOR THE LAND IS MINE and then read the other data this gifted FReeper has made available - for free, too.

Federal and State lands must be returned to private ownership because AgencyPersons will not care for them as will a private land owner. Carry_Okie has traced that thread back to a point in Western history somewhat earlier than the Ancient Greeks - specifically to a mountain in a desert where data recorded in Leviticus and Deuteronomy describe conditions and decisions facing us here in America today.

The Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act - all may be accurately termed “The Great Un-Natural Acts” in that they describe what never was and can never be.

We can do better. We can’t afford not to do better. Carry_Okie has created a starting point - the question is what will be done with what he has offered.

PS I am neither a Believer(wish I was, but ...) not do I receive anything from suggesting Carry_Okie’s works - other than the insights/perspectives I found there.

PPS Those insights/perspectives are why I suggest them to you, my FRiends.

[Carry_Okie]

Disney’s Animatronic Lab could have outdone the “Stepford wife” long ago.

To quote Cy Borg from Joe's Garage,

Plook me now you savage rascal.
Too hard...
Too hard!
You're plooking too hard, on me!!!

In quoting a great prophet, we endeavor to be historically accurate.

[GladesGuru]

Sell off Federal lands and State lands and remove the regulatory burden imposed by Fedzilla/Statezilla.

Many of the Urban Feral blacks in Big Sh*ty ghettos were from families that once were able to make a living and produce a surplus from small farms. Same for the Latrinos.

Make possible land ownership and you assure a voting class of producers rather than the multi-generational welfare swine eating out America’s substance on a scale King George never dreamed of attempting.

I am aware of teh lower IQ issue in the above mentioned populations. I am also awware that their ancestors coped and so can they.

But, first we must remove the Agencies and assumptions which make welfare serfs of out fellow Americans.

YMMV

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Boredom will be the scourge of this sort of future.

Boredom is the reason people eagerly listen to “the news” - and you see what that gets us. It gets us “liberals,” is what.

[rlmorel]

Agreed.

[sasquatch]

get the government out of land management

s/b out of mismanagement...Found a few hotspots yesterday. They're toast tomorrow by 11.

[PeterPrinciple]

Many of the people in government and business act like robots already. They do not think, and can only do things a certain way. If something is odd they cannot complete the task. But they are poor imitations, a real robot might be refreshing........................