Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Sir Napsalot
Most of them do not have ‘low intelligence’, below average is not low.

A good point. Let's take 90 to 110 as average or normal or whatever you want to call it.

Those from say 110 to 130 would be "bright," those from 70 to 90 "dull."

While the "dull" are not "low intelligence," they can in general not function effectively in a modern economy. There is no true demand for their services, or at least the demand is constantly decreasing while the supply remains constant.

Meanwhile the demand for those in the "bright" and above group constantly increases. This is probably the major driver behind the increase in "income inequality" that liberals obsess about so much. But you will note these issues are never discussed. Both liberals and conservatives don't like to discuss these things, because neither the free market nor government intervention is really capable of dealing with them effectively.

One comparison I've seen for the fate of the dulls in the future is that of a high-tech and more comfortable Indian reservation, warehousing them away with nothing to do. We all know how well that's worked out for the Indians. They aren't oppressed, really, but they have no real purpose in life, either.

In the long run, which may not be that many decades, cybertronics and automation is likely to remove the demand for services from a larger and larger part of the population. For instance, think of how many people are employed as drivers. The technology is already here for replacing 99% of them. I have no idea how quickly it will be deployed, of course.

The typical optimist and often conservative answer is that these people can retrain and take jobs that are in high demand, such as writing apps for iPhone.

But how many of those who are presently driving trucks and taxis are really capable of doing so? Not many, I suspect. Everyone recognizes the existence of the mentally handicapped and of genius, but few want to recognize that the difference between "high normal" and "low normal" very much affects the ability of a person to function economically in our society.

28 posted on 07/11/2012 1:08:28 PM PDT by Sherman Logan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies ]


To: Sherman Logan

Very good post one of the best post I’ve read about the human condition. The main reason why off shoring is such a horrible idea is that the “dulls” are justified in their perpetual victim status and off shoring destroys the work ethic which is the ONLY thing they(dulls) have.


30 posted on 07/11/2012 1:19:22 PM PDT by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies ]

To: Sherman Logan; All
Thanks for a real good discussion thread.

>>> Both liberals and conservatives don't like to discuss these things, because neither the free market nor government intervention is really capable of dealing with them effectively.

That is true.

Eventually though, for those idled and under-demanded turned into malcontents. Then a period of bloodshed breaks out, with lots of human sufferings, it doesn't matter if you are affluent or not. Sort of like a society self-correction. And then the cycle repeats.

32 posted on 07/11/2012 1:31:51 PM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies ]

To: Sherman Logan

I get the impression that you’ve viewed “Idiocracy” - maybe more than once LOL ;-)


37 posted on 07/11/2012 6:01:41 PM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson