General Discussion

reformist2

(9,841 posts) Fri Jul 19, 2013, 09:08 AM Jul 2013

The domestic issue of the 21st century: How to share the wealth in a computerized, offshored economy

Isn't it becoming increasingly clear that as technology advances, and as global free trade is allowed to proceed at a galloping pace, that the opportunities for Americans for full-time employment with decent pay and benefits are only going to decline?

Sure people can talk about creating government jobs, that there's a lot of things people can be doing to improve our society. There is merit to reviving FDR's "new deal" strategy. But there's only so many "jobs" government can create that would be meaningful. After a certain point you start creating "makework" jobs that are just a waste of time for everyone.

The big question is this - when you only need 100 million people to work to get everything done, what happens to the other 100 million people who need jobs? You end up having this absurd world of plenty, with millions of people with no means to buy these things. And then as robots and computers encroach further (and they will), those numbers will only grow worse. Our 20th century safety net doesn't have an answer. Our 18th century free-market economy certainly doesn't.

We need new ideas. 21st century ideas. Got any?

5 replies

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The domestic issue of the 21st century: How to share the wealth in a computerized, offshored economy (Original Post) reformist2 Jul 2013 OP

Try this... Safetykitten Jul 2013 #1

I'm all for progressively-minded, government-led projects like high-speed rail. But... reformist2 Jul 2013 #2

The philosophical values of any human group determine their reactions to prevailing ladjf Jul 2013 #3

I'm not sure religion is stifling economic reform, so much as lack of ideas/discussion. reformist2 Jul 2013 #4

I should have been more specific. I believe that the underlying philosophies of people ladjf Jul 2013 #5

Safetykitten

(5,162 posts)

1. Try this...

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 09:20 AM

Jul 2013

Of course technology and corporate greed will weed down the full time jobs to the point where they are almost extinct. The economy cannot sustain itself on iPhone releases and people who do not have money that cannot buy things.

What if, and I am spit balling here, we had a government that plowed everything into a 21st century ideal of transportation that was based on high speed rail first? Not freeways, not more roads. Link all the major cities in the nation with HS rail. Then have a huge national effort to delink education with profit. Then that would be a beginning.

reformist2

(9,841 posts)

2. I'm all for progressively-minded, government-led projects like high-speed rail. But...

Reply to Safetykitten (Reply #1)

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 09:49 AM

Jul 2013

... we are talking about a situation where some 40 million Americans need full-time work. I really don't think even a big government project would put everyone back to work - not even war!

ladjf

(17,320 posts)

3. The philosophical values of any human group determine their reactions to prevailing

Reply to reformist2 (Original post)

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 11:19 AM

Jul 2013

circumstances. Unfortunately, most philosophical instruction is entrusted to religious
organizations resulting in fabricated values by which to live. nt

reformist2

(9,841 posts)

4. I'm not sure religion is stifling economic reform, so much as lack of ideas/discussion.

Reply to ladjf (Reply #3)

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 12:24 PM

Jul 2013

I think the corporate media and corporate-owned politicians are mostly responsible for that.

ladjf

(17,320 posts)

5. I should have been more specific. I believe that the underlying philosophies of people

Reply to reformist2 (Reply #4)

Fri Jul 19, 2013, 01:52 PM

Jul 2013

totally guide what the do in certain situations. That would also include their approaches
to profit making. Church philosophy deals with this by leading their members to believe that their groups are the chosen ones. They talk love and charity but practice something else entirely.

Corporate structure are not leading the way in philosophical instruction, unless one
includes propaganda as a type of philosophy.

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