It became a big deal *because* of Trump's assertions about trade deals and migrant labor. It was a slam against his rhetoric, and was for many last recourse. It not only slammed Trump, it also exculpated others who hadn't managed to live up to real or attributed campaign promises.

Of course, the stories had been there for the last decade and more. All we had to do was notice them. They weren't relevant, though, because they'd suggest that the President really has limited abilities to create jobs, and that further investment in the US industrial infrastructure wouldn't produce a bountiful harvest of high-paying jobs. In fact, we had every reason to overlook such stories.

We like our news spun. Not long back it was a big deal that more worked in solar energy jobs than in oil/gas extraction in 2015. What wasn't part of the news was that most of the solar jobs were installation, and included those who installed, say, solar panels for at least 50% of their time. That, of course, makes the guy who installed my new hot water heater last spring an "oil/gas worker," when the news was only newsworthy as long as it limited the kind of oil/gas worker in a year when the US oil/gas sector was gutted by depressed oil prices. The great news, viewed as justifying many US government policies, also overlooked that solar module production may have had increased output and investment in manufacturing, but the number of Americans working in manufacturing solar modules in the US actually declined in 2015 because much of that investment (government backed!) went towards automation. Oops.

The facts weren't all that overwhelming. But the news was glowing.

When automatic elevators eliminate the need for human operators.
When electric and gas furnaces replaced coal furnaces.
When automobiles replaced horses, and that industry.

We have jobs now that did not exist but for automation.

The fact that we are sitting here conversing is due to automation.

build or buy a rickshaw.

rnny ray gun created + AYN RAND & THEY VOTED FOR MORE BULLSHIT! because the media KEEPS DIGGING RITE.

I used to automate rock quarries for a living, but no one ever lost their job instead their position went from button pusher to outside work.


Now I calibrate and repair medical equipment. in the 17 years I've been doing this the equipment has started troubleshooting and calibrating itself, but still requires a technician to replace components and verify calibration.