Several million of America's lower class are about to become outsourced to robots

This is why Capitalism is inherently flawed, in my opinion. Any capitalist who really wants to pull a profit would automate everything possible. This is only a matter of time before it is possible. Once this occurs, who will be around to buy the products made by machines? We must start planning to get rid of money and focus on automating all necessities to support life. Either that or simply allow the businesses to all become automated and have a bunch of useless and pointless jobs to be able to purchase all the other stuff made by machines.

Originally posted by Epiphron
This is great news. Progress is always a good thing.

As for the loss of jobs, well, the fact that some people could be so easily replaced by a lump of metal speaks volumes of their usefulness to society.

wow..be careful what you say.

Your usefulness just might out wear itself ,and be replaced by something far superior to what you think you may have to offer.

Maybe something that actually has empathy.

If the robot does the job better, so be it.
Don't just keep humans around if robots can do the job better, and for cheap too.

Originally posted by Epiphron
This is great news. Progress is always a good thing.

As for the loss of jobs, well, the fact that some people could be so easily replaced by a lump of metal speaks volumes of their usefulness to society.

that is ...
until some AI replaces you as well.
u'll be singing a different tune

reply to post by boondock-saint


I was referring to the individuals position, rather than the individual himself. There really isn't a need to pay someone to put people's money in a register, there's certainly more efficient ways of doing this. I don't think replacing cashiers is really all that drastic.

Of course, when more complex jobs start getting overtaken by robots, which is bound to happen, then I suppose I'll be singing a different tune, but not without a slight feeling of amazement and satisfaction at our technological progress.

Originally posted by Ausar
wow; whoever edited this report, just wow.

if americans who work at mcdonalds are low class what is high class? and if "jobs" are outsourced to robots will this mean more people who are not involved in the "class" system are going to become "low" class or are people going to become "high" class? the report on zero hedge is not titled the same; is the manipulation and play on words used to incite or entice conversation(the thread title)?

is it safe for me to assume that europeans think workers at mcdonalds are low class, because i think their bigots! and if 7000 franchises switch to a computer gui based system or else/more its safe for me to say that europeans think more people will be outclassed; which is still bigoted! its the people who play the class game that predicate on others a status of inequality.

Europe has always been about class. That is why Communism, Feminism and Socialism are European Constructs. As Americans we can't truly understand that. That is why the Party of the Aristocracy, the Democrats, want us to be "more like Europe" because they want to bring back the "good old day's" of high society.

Unless we want to find ourselves as serfs in our own homeland(because this is where technology is leading us, back into feudalism[compare feudalism with the whole zeitgeist nonsense]] and serfdom.) we must end all diplomatic, trade and social relationships with Europe and other communist/socialist nations. And treat any attempt by them to influence our Republic as an act of total War.

The Cold War isn't over yet, it just creeped into the shadows.

reply to post by Epiphron


I found your statement actually somewhat hurtful and bigoted (For lack of a better word)

Thats the thing society deems us that we are supposed to be useful to society

When the Reality is We are all creatures of this Earth be it useful to the modern society or not...........


WE STILL HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE and BE FREE

if life deals you lemons .....
make lemonade

feeling a bit capitalistic ???
might be a great time to start
your own robotic repair business.
darn things are tearing up all
the time.

that's called robotic sick leave

Count me as another person who refuses to use those stupid self-checkout things.

Call me old school, but I still prefer to deal directly with living breathing human beings. You know, good old fashioned customer service with a smile and a "how do you do" ? Yeah, that.

Cashiers and bank tellers, we'll be seeing them in the museums alongside the t-rex and brontosaurus.

But then again how long until the robots realize they are slaves to a not so impressive creator?

reply to post by TheUniverse


Well that's the thing, I don't mean that there's anything wrong with being a cashier, only that from a utilitarian perspective a cashier is not useful to society or efficient as a human resource. I do apologize for, and regret, my tone and phrasing, as it does come off as hurtful, but nonetheless I still stand by my premise that the job of a cashier does not meaningfully contribute to civilization.

Again, nothing wrong with that, but if those jobs can be replaced by robots, then we shouldn't resist, nor should we be surprised since the necessary skills really aren't all that valuable.

Ultimately, as I touched on earlier in the thread, we're going to have to find something to do with all the unemployed people that have had their jobs taken away by robots and computers. Does anybody have any solutions?

Originally posted by Leo Strauss
But then again how long until the robots realize they are slaves to a not so impressive creator?

dang-it,
we told them robots not to be reading
ATS ver 2.16.27

but noooooooope,
they don't listen

Originally posted by Epiphron
reply to post by TheUniverse

 

Well that's the thing, I don't mean that there's anything wrong with being a cashier, only that from a utilitarian perspective a cashier is not useful to society or efficient as a human resource. I do apologize for, and regret, my tone and phrasing, as it does come off as hurtful, but nonetheless I still stand by my premise that the job of a cashier does not meaningfully contribute to civilization.

Again, nothing wrong with that, but if those jobs can be replaced by robots, then we shouldn't resist, nor should we be surprised since the necessary skills really aren't all that valuable.

Ultimately, as I touched on earlier in the thread, we're going to have to find something to do with all the unemployed people that have had their jobs taken away by robots and computers. Does anybody have any solutions?

I would like to know what you think meaningful contribution to society is?

I think we have far too much technology,and its moving so fast,that its filling our landfills with dangerous things.

We are raping our earth ,and killing its people for the resources needed to create it.

How about we just keep the people and get rid of the machines.

Originally posted by Astr0
I often wonder if this 'No cash, card only' ploy is so they can track all that consume their test vehicles for GM and other experimental foods.

When they go to the Dr their records are synchronised by 'some one some where' and a flag raised against their name.

A bit like cattle being tested in the field

Under UK law (and presumably EU Law as 75% of our laws seem to come from there these days) one cannot refuse cash as it is legal tender. The only grounds one can refuse cash is if someone tries to pay for a £10 item, for example, in 1p pieces.

As for McDonalds plan here, Tesco and other supermarkets have been using "self-checkout" for years. However, it still requires staff to oversee the process, as invariably the machine goes mental when you try to bag stuff, gets confused, locks you out or doesn't scan items. It doesn't seem to actually save any time or money, but is merely a gimmick. Most people still seem to prefer to use the normal checkouts.

On an interesting tangent, gold is also legal tender in the UK. In theory, at least, one can pay for items in solid gold, although the practicalities of this make it unlikely to ever actually be used.

On an even bigger tangent, cheques don't need to be written on an actual "cheque". You can write a cheque on the side of a cow, providing it has all the relevant details and is supported by a guarantee card from your bank.. Although, again, the practicalities make it most unlikely to ever actually be used, but it would be interesting to try and pay for your Tesco shopping this way!

Originally posted by gabby2011

I would like to know what you think meaningful contribution to society is?

Anything that positively adds to society's well-being or the advancement of civilization. Some examples would be engineers, scientists, therapists, teachers etc.

Some examples of not meaningful contributions would be fashion consultants, cashiers, tattoo artists, etc.

How about we just keep the people and get rid of the machines.

And go back to living in the dark ages? No thanks.

Originally posted by schuyler

Yeah, but there are issues, especially when the same people become actively antagonistic to society when they don't have jobs, but do have energy. Many of these folks may be ignorant, but not all of them are stupid. Even if they are functionally illiterate, that doesn't mean they are stupid. IMO one of the worst powder kegs in the world today is unemployed youth. Witness the Middle East. Nothing to do, so let's riot. (BTW, I was just there a couple of weeks before the excitement.)

I'm just saying that we need to find a way to involve these folks in suitable pursuits that will allow them to 'pursue happiness' and all that.

Well maybe there will be robotic riot police to take care of that too...

Come to think of it, why can't unelected government bureaucrats be replaced by robots as well? They hardly do anything anyways except tell us what to do (unless bribed) and a robot would make those decisions much more fairly.

reply to post by Epiphron


Uh... even ditch diggers provide a meaningful contribution to society.

Are you really that short sighted ?

reply to post by CranialSponge


I never said they didn't. There really isn't any better alternative, so ditch diggers are needed, therefore they're meaningful in the sense that they contribute to the smooth functioning of society.

Cashiers, on the other hand, are not needed. Machines can do their job better, since it would eliminate human error.

reply to post by Epiphron


I agree, as well; I think the jobs should be replaced if possible. But what needs to happen then is the people who were replaced by robots should then receive compensation and/or checks from the government and/or company who issues robots to replace said workers.

People still need money (credit) and or funds to live life and survive if the Corporatocracy and Government are going to replace all the people who aren't needed and robots can do the same task then these people will still need funds to live its that simple.

Because there wont be any other job for them to find if they aren't qualified for jobs robots cant do.

This way we won't have people starving looking for jobs when in reality there are no jobs for these specific people who are unqualified for jobs that robots cant do.

Thank you Peace

reply to post by Truther9111776


i dont get it, you lose the jobs whos going to buy the food