[ambrose]

The industrial revolution wasn't any fun for the people caught in the middle of the transformation either, but I don't think anyone can argue it wasn't an improvement over the Agrarian society that preceded it.

Now we're entering the Information Revolution.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Now we're entering the Information Revolution.

Yes. Information that is now being "outsourced" as we speak.

[oceanview]

farming jobs weren't sent offshore, the # of people required to conduct farming activites was reduced by technology. to be sure, the same thing is happening in manufacturing (one part of the decline in employment), automation and technology reduce the number of workers required, even in china.

but that is not what is happening in tech and IT. there aren't fewer programmers, its just that less americans hold those jobs, more in India do. there aren't fewer call center people, its just that less americans hold those jobs, they are now in India, and the Phillipines. IBM doesn't have fewer accounting and finance people, its just that the americans that once held those jobs have lost them to workers in brazil. In fact, employment in IT/tech is INCREASING, its just all happening offshore.

the comparison to farming and manufacturing is not valid.

[Shermy]

Now we're entering the Information Revolution.

"Information economy" jobs were theorized as an outcmoe of NAFTA. Now those are the very jobs fleeing to India.

Bush, when he talks about "new jobs" doesn't even bother to mention where they'll come from.

[greydog]

The industrial revolution wasn't any fun for the people caught in the middle of the transformation either, but I don't think anyone can argue it wasn't an improvement over the Agrarian society that preceded it.

Now we're entering the Information Revolution.

The Industrial Revolution improved the efficiency of making material, finite things, which made monies exchange hands faster, which in turn improved material wealth over a large base.

The Information Revolution improves the efficiency of immaterial, abstract things which improves material wealth over a very small base.