Posted on 02/22/2016 2:44:42 PM PST by Kaslin
Democrat presidential candidate Bernie Sanders thinks he can wave a magic government wand, impose lots of new taxes and government programs and make the world grand.
Reality has another notion.
Take the minimum wage. Bernie says he'll raise it to $15 an hour, more than doubling it. If I worked at a fast-food restaurant for minimum wage, Bernie would get my vote.
But the problem is, I'd likely never see $15 an hour as a fast-food employee because my entry-level job might be taken over by a robot.
According to the Brisbane Times, robots are expected to replace half of the world's jobs - burger flippers, truck drivers, bank tellers, telephone operators and many other low-skill professions - within the next 20 years.
In the fast-food business, labor costs account for 30 percent of the overall budget. If the minimum wage is doubled, labor costs would double - but there isn't enough profit margin in the typical operating structure of a low-margin fast-food restaurant to absorb the increased costs. That will incentivize these businesses to invest in automation technologies.
"The higher the minimum wage goes, the lower the threshold will go for robots to replace humans in many minimum-wage roles," reports The Week.
It's also why kiosks and table-based ordering systems are popping up at restaurants all over the country.
Which brings us back to Bernie Sanders.
His website says this, "Despite huge advancements in technology and productivity, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages."
Why?
According to Bernie, it's because the wealthy have rigged the system to redistribute wealth from the middle class to the rich.
But doubling the minimum wage will, ironically, drive more advancements in the technology and productivity that will put the people Bernie is trying to help out of work.
In this regard, Bernie doesn't understand economics so well. But neither does President Obama.
A few years back, Obama criticized self-serve banking technology for eliminating jobs, but he was only half right about that. Though the technology does eliminate some bank teller positions, it creates much better jobs for software engineers and other people who design, build, install and maintain the high-tech banking machines.
Bernie and Obama don't seem to understand that huge advancements in technology and productivity mean there are fewer low-skill jobs that pay well, but there are many high-paying jobs in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) professions.
To get such jobs, though, one has to study, sacrifice, go to a trade school or college and work hard.
In fact, Bernie, if you want to champion an important issue, how about education reform - how about preparing all of our children, including those in many poor performing government schools, for the great jobs of the future?
Your website lists 13 actions you will take to reduce income and wealth inequality - lots of new taxes and government programs.
But you offer no specific plans to reform government-run schools at the elementary and high school levels, particularly in urban areas.
You talk about reforming government-mandated testing. You say you will reduce disparities in resources between wealthy and low-income schools, but you don't say how.
You are adamantly against school vouchers, which is one way for low-income families to send their kids to better schools - so they can get the skills they need to go on to trade schools or college.
I suppose it's a lot easier to wave a "$15 an hour minimum wage for all" magic wand than to bring real reform to our government-run schools.
But that can't stop the real challenge unskilled workers will face.
The robots are coming.
I kinda want Bernie to beat Hillary, but i am not sure if we are so far gone so as Bernie would win against our eventual GOP nominee.
I think Hillary may be the weakest beast to run against... but also she would be more likely to actually RIG the entire election...
I want Bernie to stay in long enough to exhaust the dems, lose the nomination at the convention, and then see Hillary indicted.
And I want to win the lottery, live on a warm tropical island and spend my days on the beach with an umbrella drink in my hand, too.
Amnesty/open borders US Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D) is pushing for a $30.00 an hour minimum wage. The demands are limitless and boundless. Freeloader Bernie Sanders approves.
[ And I want to win the lottery, live on a warm tropical island and spend my days on the beach with an umbrella drink in my hand, too. ]
That sounds nice, maybe if all hell breaks lose and I decide to abandon the USA for some island on the south pacific...
The Clintons are dangerous, but their reputation in “retail” politics (often hyped by the MSM) far exceeds the reality.
Both BJ’s POTUS wins were by plurality.
Both Hillary’s Senate wins were in NY State with huge campaign budgets against tepid opponents.
And both have a long history of “toxic coattails” on the campaign trail for their endorsees.
Sanders is going to beat Hillary and lose to Trump.
Yes, but then profit and productivity increase gained by adding robots will be stolen by taxes, and above all, Federal Reserve money printing, inflation, and fake interest rates, all to support the progressive nanny state.
Especially when Democrats supporting Bernie are reminded that the primary is rigged (with Hillary getting all of the delegates).
This is precisely why Town Hall, along with Hot Air, is going down the drain. The author presumes that Sanders’ objective is to really help those in need. In reality, Sanders knows that his programs don’t work but the goal is control and power.
Went thru some road construction last week. They had a human flagger on one end and a robot flagger on the other end.
Comey is too scared to go after Hillary; I don’t care what he says.
The mere fact he’s done nothing to this point shows me this is on the level of an Issa “investigation”.
As Hillary wins 7-out-of-7 “coin tosses”.
Most of the manufacturing jobs that Trump wants to bring back here via tariff walls are going to go to robots, too.
AND one cut of the cards. 8 for 8.
Is there any chance I can hope the Dems will freak out, realizing this thing is rigged for Hillary?
I mean, popcorn, ya know.
Bernie would require robots in restaurants be programmed to spit.
Someone hasn't read enough science fiction. :)
And I want to win the lottery, live on a warm tropical island and spend my days on the beach with an umbrella drink in my hand, too.
May you get both your wishes!
Bridging the Bio-Electronic Divide
New effort aims for fully implantable devices able to connect with up to one million neurons
1/19/2016
http://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2015-01-19
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