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A blue-collar bloodbath is inevitable
The Hill ^ | 08/11/25 12:30 PM ET | by John Mac Ghlionn, opinion contributor

Posted on 08/11/2025 12:52:03 PM PDT by RandFan

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This is about AI/robotics and what will unfold
1 posted on 08/11/2025 12:52:03 PM PDT by RandFan
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To: RandFan

The Trades have the Deep State on their side.
They love it, and vote for it at every step.

Regulations.
Licensing.
Local Laws.
Limited product availability.

That’s why it costs $400 for 12 ft of black pipe with a shutoff valve.

Right of Repair should come to all Homeowners.

I’ll sit back and wait for all the Grifting Trades Folks to chime in.


2 posted on 08/11/2025 12:57:58 PM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
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To: RandFan
AI cannot weld, or install plumbing, or repair electrical systems, or fix aircraft.

Mike Rowe has been pleading with us to re-populate the trades - really just about the only AI-proof jobs.

3 posted on 08/11/2025 12:58:30 PM PDT by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: RandFan

Somehow I don’t think this will lead to the Star Trek Utopia where machines do *ALL* the hard work, leaving mankind free to pursue enrichment through arts, the sciences, sports, exploration, and just plain recreation, due to the enormous wealth generated by automata and distributed freely to any and all citizens.


4 posted on 08/11/2025 12:59:33 PM PDT by Westbrook (democRATs are wizards at two things: Finding votes and losing evidence.)
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To: RandFan

Other things can lower the value of my trade but AI won’t.


5 posted on 08/11/2025 12:59:33 PM PDT by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
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To: RandFan

The answer is to deport illegals.

Unfortunately, Trump flip-flopped and is now advancing amnesty instead.


6 posted on 08/11/2025 12:59:47 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: RandFan

its like mechanical looms of the 1700s, tractors of the 1800s, or machine presses of the 1900s

Its a disruptive technological advancement which can’t move faster than the economy, society or capital availability, and will eventually get worked into the labor market


7 posted on 08/11/2025 1:00:14 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: RandFan

I look forward to robots who can staff nursing homes to eliminate the need to import more illegal aliens to change our diapers and curb the elder abuse that goes with it, and ditto for insane asylums so we can get the homeless crazies off the streets.


8 posted on 08/11/2025 1:00:16 PM PDT by Orosius
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To: RandFan
But AI doesn’t sleep. It doesn’t stall. And most importantly, it doesn’t peak.

It also does not exist.

And probably never will.

9 posted on 08/11/2025 1:02:33 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: Psalm 73

Automated welding systems have been arpund for decades. Of course it takes a human to set them up


10 posted on 08/11/2025 1:03:01 PM PDT by shotgun
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To: RandFan

LOL. We’ll see about that. I think the days of an Optimus robot showing up at your house to fix the toilet are decades away at the earliest.


11 posted on 08/11/2025 1:06:20 PM PDT by Antoninus (Republicans are all honorable men.)
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To: Westbrook
Somehow I don’t think this will lead to the Star Trek Utopia where machines do *ALL* the hard work....

You'll recall that O'Brien in TNG and DS9 was portrayed as constantly overworked, no matter how numerous his crew.
12 posted on 08/11/2025 1:08:27 PM PDT by Antoninus (Republicans are all honorable men.)
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To: Psalm 73

Not YET.

Give it a decade.

I hear Elon Musk is working with a major farm machine company to produce robotic farmhands, they’ll call the line of humanoid field workers “Juan Deere” models.


13 posted on 08/11/2025 1:08:39 PM PDT by normbal (normbal. Non-native Tennessean.)
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To: Psalm 73

Rowe never talks about wages.


14 posted on 08/11/2025 1:09:58 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: Orosius

There are enough Americans. They just don’t want to pay.


15 posted on 08/11/2025 1:11:28 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: RandFan

The “robots will replace everyone” now sounds like the “cars will fly like airplanes—like the Jetsons” of the past.


16 posted on 08/11/2025 1:11:33 PM PDT by BuchananBrigadeTrumpFan (If in doubt, it's probably sarcasm)
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To: TalBlack

the biggest issue will be a glut of trades guys, will happen in 6 years.


17 posted on 08/11/2025 1:17:57 PM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: Antoninus
“I think the days of an Optimus robot showing up at your house to fix the toilet are decades away at the earliest.”

More likely the robot shows up and takes out the plastic, modular toilet which is just two years old and replaces it with another plastic, modular toilet which has a twenty three month warranty.

Even today you don't repair a toaster; just get another from Red China.

18 posted on 08/11/2025 1:19:09 PM PDT by jeffersondem
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To: RandFan

UberRepair

AI believes that you need the following done
....
at an UberRepair book rate of $312.

Bob-available now-80% of UberRepair book rates
[photo][rating][qualifications][credentials][reviews]

Jimmy-available ~5pm-75% of UberRepair book rates
[photo][rating][qualifications][credentials][reviews]
....


19 posted on 08/11/2025 1:28:37 PM PDT by Brian Griffin
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To: RandFan

Everybody has an opinion but no one knows how this will go. I do know that buggy whip manufacturers are rare these days. AI is just another step in a long progression.


20 posted on 08/11/2025 1:30:19 PM PDT by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....TRUMP IS RIGHT AGAIN.)
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