How will American self determination culture survive technological unemployment?

[Neph]

Hey guys.

The US has a strong culture of self determination, of individual freedoms and responsibilties, that I have great respect for. However I believe that the whole developed world is facing changes over the next decade or so that will massively impact social class, distribution of wealth and welfare.

With the death of the great Stephen Hawking I thought I would bring one of his concerns from a reddit AMA he did two years ago which can be here

Prof-Stephen-Hawking
I'm rather late to the question-asking party, but I'll ask anyway and hope. Have you thought about the possibility of technological unemployment, where we develop automated processes that ultimately cause large unemployment by performing jobs faster and/or cheaper than people can perform them? Some compare this thought to the thoughts of the Luddites, whose revolt was caused in part by perceived technological unemployment over 100 years ago. In particular, do you foresee a world where people work less because so much work is automated? Do you think people will always either find work or manufacture more work to be done? Thank you for your time and your contributions. I’ve found research to be a largely social endeavor, and you've been an inspiration to so many.

Answer:

If machines produce everything we need, the outcome will depend on how things are distributed. Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality.

Similar concerns for the future have been raised by Jordan Peterson which can be found in part here. Throughout his video series he discusses low IQ and the evolving job market, especially with automation and how many male jobs involve driving and how quickly that could be disappearing (quoting Tesla as the example).

I believe at some point in the not so distant future the job opportunities for people at the lower rungs of intelligence will begin to dry up, and this will continue as automation grows and more and more jobs go this way. What will our society look like when people are simply unable to get a job, and more importantly...

How will American self determination culture survive technological unemployment if the market shifts to such a way that no job exists for certain groups? Will growing welfare or "socialist" style systems be needed?

 

[HockeyBjj]

So thankful my job is basically making/designing the robots that steal jobs

 

[Trotsky]

Most of the "durr snowflakes, poor people are lazy" generations will have died off by then.

 

[LMP]

My goal is to be rich as shit. Then I won't give a damn about the poor peasants.

 

[jonharrison]

Hey guys.

The US has a strong culture of self determination, of individual freedoms and responsibilties, that I have great respect for. However I believe that the whole developed world is facing changes over the next decade or so that will massively impact social class, distribution of wealth and welfare.

With the death of the great Stephen Hawking I thought I would bring one of his concerns from a reddit AMA he did two years ago which can be here



Similar concerns for the future have been raised by Jordan Peterson which can be found in part here. Throughout his video series he discusses low IQ and the evolving job market, especially with automation and how many male jobs involve driving and how quickly that could be disappearing (quoting Tesla as the example).

I believe at some point in the not so distant future the job opportunities for people at the lower rungs of intelligence will begin to dry up, and this will continue as automation grows and more and more jobs go this way. What will our society look like when people are simply unable to get a job, and more importantly...

How will American self determination culture survive technological unemployment if the market shifts to such a way that no job exists for certain groups? Will growing welfare or "socialist" style systems be needed?

Honestly I think the increasing movement of people who actively try to hunt and grow their own food is a response to this. Steve Rinella is an example. Essentially as automation takes an increasing role in people’s lives, there will increasingly be those who revert back to a more primative style of life to find challenge and fulfillment.

 

[FierceRedBelt]

So thankful my job is basically making/designing the robots that steal jobs

Ah, what are you working on?

 

[Konquest]

Honestly I think the increasing movement of people who actively try to hunt and grow their own food is a response to this. Steve Rinella is an example. Essentially as automation takes an increasing role in people’s lives, there will increasingly be those who revert back to a more primative style of life to find challenge and fulfillment.

Ditto with woodwork, blacksmithing, etc. I build furniture as a side business and there are more and more people at younger ages that want to unplug and build shit after a week at work behind an LED screen.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

This concept of the individual being more important than the group is one of America’s biggest problems imo. It leads to selfishness and greed of monumental proportions.


As the ball rolls down the hill you find the quacks who don’t want to fund education, healthcare etcetc etc. why? Because the individual is more important Than the group. “Why should I pay for education when I don’t have children In school?” Meaning, I’m more important than the group even though the outcome is positive if I partake in helping the group rather than only myself.

 

[hillelslovak87]

So thankful my job is basically making/designing the robots that steal jobs

I'm still waiting for my HopeNCum Obamacare blowbot, asshole. Get to work!!

 

[PrinceOfPain]

This concept of the individual being more important than the group is one of America’s biggest problems imo. It leads to selfishness and greed of monumental proportions.


As the ball rolls down the hill you find the quacks who don’t want to fund education, healthcare etcetc etc. why? Because the individual is more important Than the group. “Why should I pay for education when I don’t have children In school?” Meaning, I’m more important than the group even though the outcome is positive if I partake in helping the group rather than only myself.

And when applied to "troublesome" minorities, how does this "for the greater good" mentality work?

 

[Lord Commander Palis]

Ah, what are you working on?

He's actually in "logistics". He wears a back brace to work. Oh and his "lab" is where they store stuff then ship stuff out. He also said one time he saw a robot walking around, but then he had to get back to work because his boss said he needed to move stuff.

So, i don't know if everyone is aware or not, but eventually, through overpopulation, growth in technology, sophistication in technology, that, we will indeed have to wake up and smell the sausage because the inevitable is coming in regards to leaving many people jobless due to technology. Especially low skilled positions where people with no desire and care for success are.

My point is... Waaaaay more separation of wealth. We're talking way beyond a nightmare for the U.S. and many countries alike. I don't even want to know what China will be like, but the world will be in civil unrest like never before.

How do we combat this? Ever see the movie Fight Club? But instead of banks and financial institutions we...

 

[7437]

Itd be nice if this fucking automation would work better. Lots of nights it breaks so much i dont have time to post on sherdog.

 

[xcvbn]

This concept of the individual being more important than the group is one of America’s biggest problems imo. It leads to selfishness and greed of monumental proportions.


As the ball rolls down the hill you find the quacks who don’t want to fund education, healthcare etcetc etc. why? Because the individual is more important Than the group. “Why should I pay for education when I don’t have children In school?” Meaning, I’m more important than the group even though the outcome is positive if I partake in helping the group rather than only myself.

It would help if we demanded more from those with more, and less from those with less. While it's true the wealthier are taxed a higher percent, the less fortunate still pay in ways that are less understood. Like hours worked, time off, stress, wear and tear, etc.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

It would help if we demanded more from those with more, and less from those with less. While it's true the wealthier are taxed a higher percent, the less fortunate still pay in ways that are less understood. Like hours worked, time off, stress, wear and tear, etc.

Americans don't have a mindset of "were all in this together," like other parts of the world. We have a me, me, me attitude here. That's why we're behind on many issues.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

And when applied to "troublesome" minorities, how does this "for the greater good" mentality work?

I have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[Last Samurai]

in the sea of change
you either learn to swim
or you sink like a stone

 

[PrinceOfPain]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You don't see how subordinating the rights of the individual to the convenience of the community might negatively impact those whose interests are in the minority?

 

[Bloodworth]

There was a wave of technology that already eliminated thousands of jobs year ago and people survived .

Look at the show how it's made. Most are push button factories where hundreds of workers would have been used..

There are sectors where technology won't effect labor . Landscaping, construction, plumbing ,.

But Americans are told they don't want those jobs.

There needs to be programs that put Americans into labor excessive jobs. And pay them better for it.

We are Americans doing the jobs so called Americans won't do.

 

[Neph]

There needs to be programs that put Americans into labor excessive jobs. And pay them better for it.

Doesn't this run against the basis of having a capitalist economy? The market decides the labor rates and forcing someone to be paid more for it is absolutely regulatory interference.

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

You don't see how subordinating the rights of the individual to the convenience of the community might negatively impact those whose interests are in the minority?

I think I made myself pretty clear in my other posts. I believe that you take part in the group for the betterment of everyone..... not just yourself.

I used the example of education and it’s funding.