[Repeal The 17th]

For some reason you make me recall an old story...true or not, I do not know...

Back when the steam shovel was first invented,
there was a big public display of its abilities.
The creators claimed that their invention could do the work of 100 men.
The laborers bemoaned that, saying it would put shovelers out of work.
The creators of the steam shovel replied,
“then why not take away your shovels and use 1000 men with teaspoons”.
...or something like that...

[Age of Reason]

The creators claimed that their invention could do the work of 100 men. The laborers bemoaned that, saying it would put shovelers out of work. The creators of the steam shovel replied, “then why not take away your shovels and use 1000 men with teaspoons”.

At least a 1000 men with teaspoons would still have jobs.

[Smokin' Joe]

The laborers bemoaned that, saying it would put shovelers out of work.

How many construction jobs have some guy sitting up in the excavator waiting for the guy in the hole with the shovel to move the rock away from whatever they are digging up? (Every one I have ever been on).

[Joe 6-pack]

I’d always heard that anecdote attributed to Milton Friedman, but apparently it has deeper and less clear roots than that:

http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/10/10/spoons-shovels/