"Automation Causes Job Destruction" OPINIONS<?>

[Paulus]

As I have previously replied to a similar thread...

Installing and commissioning some high speed packaging / overwrapping machinery for a soap powder product in Nigeria, once finished, I was thanked by the 20 - 24 women who would sit there all day in an unventilated, dusty factory, manually filling and sealing these boxes of powder. They thought that their jobs had just become so much easier!
I left with a slight heaviness to my conscience...
I believe that that was the first time that it hit me, that a lot of what I do (did), actually involved removing manual labour from the production process.

 

[surferb]

I agree! Automation systems are productivity multipliers. Increasing profit margin per worker bee -> justifying hiring more worker bees (and making them more valuable, thus higher payed) -> more output and more growth. The argument that automation replaces workers in the aggregate is flawed in that it assumes a constant demand. Sure workers aren't doing all the same tedious tasks, but automation certainly isn't taking jobs on the larger scale.

actually had more workers than before they automated.

 

[surferb]

So what's the next big craze? Always looking for the "right place" to put my money ;-)

So why do you feel you need to rant or make excuses? You are not the blame for the law of nature. It existed long before you did.

I invested heavily into energy stocks back in 2003. I make much more on the profits these stocks provide than my increased costs in driving. Essentially I get my gas, petrol, for free. So???? Does that pi$$ any body off?

That is just the way things are. You must see the punches coming ahead of time if you are going to roll with the punches.

 

[Paulus]

So what's the next big craze? Always looking for the "right place" to put my money ;-)

Skateboards!!!

 

[OkiePC]

I occasionally feel a little bad for eliminating labor, but usually it is the most menial, dangerous, and difficult tasks that we make go away.

So now instead of grunts we have robot attendants, and I don't feel the least bit bad about hurting chiropractors' business.

It is unstoppable and I would rather be a part of helping our company stay competitive as well as trade lots of dirty jobs for fewer, more technical ones.

As long as we keep dreaming up gadgets and services we can't seem to do without, I don't expect automation to cause an unemployment crisis.

Paul

 

[surferb]

Well put Paul!

 

[TimWilborne]

I invested heavily into energy stocks back in 2003. I make much more on the profits these stocks provide than my increased costs in driving. Essentially I get my gas, petrol, for free. So???? Does that pi$$ any body off?

It probably pi$$es most people off on the forum except me. What pi$$es me off is congress trying to tax "windfall profits". Seems very counter productive to me. Why penalize a companies management for doing their job well?

 

[sapoleon]

Well, it's to think about it... OK. I already did.

It's not the first time that I get this subject. I have a good friend that when people ask what's my job, he is eager to answer that my task is to generate unemployment. Tough.
It doesn't matter to those people that they're back is not going to hurt anymore, because they can now only think that they don't have what to eat anymore! and in most cases if they're past some age, they are not going to start over, they just may found a new lousy job.
If they are lucky, and live in a socialist country well, we are going to pay for they're unemployment check with our automation job. If it is not so a country, we will pay with our less secure society or generating new policeman jobs that they will fill in and pay it with our automation jobs.

One way or the other we are going to pay.

In any case. I like what I do. I don't think is too bad. But in any case... My thoughts are not too straights. We can also for that case blame medicine, for making life in this time so long.

Just a thought. And not my only one...

 

[MartB]

I've been in industries where each single instance of "my machine" has put 50-60 people out of work within 24hrs of installation. I've been threatened many times, blockaded, shot at, bomb threats at my hotel, even needed armed escort to and from the work site, etc, etc.
Some people cannot see the advantage of progress, many people are resistant to change, especially if it is in an area where there are no alternative employment opportunities.
All in all, none of this will ever stop the automation industry, because most industries are run by accountants who simply look at the bottom line and look to save money wherever and however they can - automation (in general) achieves this for them, and usually with a good ROI.
Progress in the automation world is unstoppable, sometimes it takes a short breather, but essentially it's job is to remove people. Sometimes this is a good thing, especially in dangerous/hazardous environments etc. But often people fail to see the advantages when you are basically taking food away from their mouths.
There will always be harbingers of doom when it comes to the 'damage' that automation does to our lives, what we need to embrace is the positives of our changing society. We need to learn how to make use of and assist those that don't have opportunities for education and general enhancement of our world and our way of life.
We need to invest some of those cost savings that are afforded by our automation, into our education and health systems (worldwide) so that we can all sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labors.

And so endeth my Monday morning rant.

 

[cjd1965]

I've been in industries where each single instance of "my machine" has put 50-60 people out of work within 24hrs of installation. I've been threatened many times, blockaded, shot at, bomb threats at my hotel, even needed armed escort to and from the work site, etc, etc.

I hope you got danger money lol

 

[MartB]

Yep - ALWAYS!
But I did get concerned when I found out my boss reduced my blackmail insurance down to $1 million.
(Tip: When applying for a job with lots of overseas travel, always ask what coverage of blackmail insurance they have for employees. This is often overlooked.)

 

[Clay B.]

It probably pi$$es most people off on the forum except me. What pi$$es me off is congress trying to tax "windfall profits". Seems very counter productive to me. Why penalize a companies management for doing their job well?

I see your point here, but I also see the other side. WIndfall tax is supposed to be designed so that speculative profits (see oil industy) do not destroy the ecomony. Some things have to be regulated or we all lose.

 

[Peter Nachtwey]

So what's the next big craze? Always looking for the "right place" to put my money ;-)

Water, clean water.
Look at the bottled water industry. It is insane!!! When I was young I never would have seen anyone pay for water.
Now think of clean water on a city or nation wide basis.
There are more and more of us to foul the little we have.

 

[SLC_Integrator]

I see your point here, but I also see the other side. WIndfall tax is supposed to be designed so that speculative profits (see oil industy) do not destroy the ecomony. Some things have to be regulated or we all lose.

Windfall tax is a tax on the actual companies (such as Chevron, BP etc).
Speculation is done by 'speculators' which are financial institutions. It is their job to move money around, speculating on what will increase in value so they can make money.

Lets NOT confuse the two.

Alot of my clients are energy companies that get very, very tired of Joe Public blaming them for things they have NO control over.
They dont control the flow of foreign oil, congress wont let them drill here, the Dems wont let anyone go after alternatives such as Oil Shale or Tar Sand and they nixed nuclear power.

Refining oil companies such as Valero and Tesoro are really struggling right now, take a look at their stock (a good time to buy!!).

Simple fact is we are running out of options, someone better do something and do it quick.

 

[BillRobinson]

Look out Pharmacists

I say survival of the fittest! Technology has never stopped the human machine of production. Did electricity put the world into recession because of unemployed candle makers? No, of course not, in fact I'd bet that there are 3 times more electricians per capita now then candle makers 150 years ago. Automation does not cause job destruction is causes job displacement. Displacement meaning moving, moving forward.

Next stop, I say we take down those overpaid pharmacists!