Poor Man Survival
Self Reliance
tools for independent minded people…
ISSN 2161-5543
A
Digest of Urban Survival Resources
The Robots are Coming for Your Job…
In 1986 I wrote a widely
quoted column titled Burger Flippers
Can’t Afford Your $40,000 Auto which was in response to an announcement
by General Electric of further off-shoring of US jobs. Responses in the Wall Street Journal and
other business media suggested this was just a passing fad, it wouldn’t last,
the American worker was not in danger.
As we all know, that was not true.
NAFTA and other so-called world trade policies have hurt middle class
jobs and our standard of living while Wall Street has profited…leading to
perpetual financial insecurity for many citizens.
As has been said, change is inevitable but progress is not. The next round of change which has been
taking place and one that has been stabbing the worker in the back is the
growth of robotics.
According to a detailed study in 2017 by MIT and Boston University
economists, between 1990 and 2007, robots displaced some 670,000 industrial
workers and precipitated a drastic decline in wages…automation is predicted to
quadruple by 2025 fueled by military and defense research, Silicon Valley and
University researchers and other government-funded research all designed to
replace humans in the name of making things more efficient and safe – just like
‘driverless cars.’
I find it ironic, for example, that fast food workers strike for higher
pay…yet, they too are being replaced by robotic self-serve counters and kiosks
which do not require human workers.
Eventually, we won’t need humans to serve food or to drive taxis or for
bus service…that eliminate a lot of jobs.
After studying the amazing
strength of ants working in cooperation, Stanford University’s Dexterous
Manipulation Lab built a team of six, 3.5-ounce microbots that can pull a
3,900-pound car. Amazon is developing a
fleet of robotic warehouses and convenience stores which will lower prices by
replacing clerks and stockers with robots.
They have started testing delivery of packages using drones instead of
humans.
AI systems via Google are now poised to replace jobs transporting
products on our highways via prototypes of tractor-trailer fleets, replacing
1.8 million human truckers. These automated systems never need time off, never
need to eat and eventually, the workers who load and unload these trucks will
be replaced by robots as well.
Think about your local bank…many of them use fewer tellers, instead
encouraging online banking via smart phones or through an ATM. The Washington Post reported this
new “automation bomb” could destroy 45 percent of US work activities causing $2
trillion in lost annual wages!
Given the decline in intelligence and motivation among young people
that we see, this portends a very troubling future. As physicist, Stephen Hawking warns “AI could spell the end of the human
race…it could take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing
rate.”
Once again, the Wall Street Journal happily assures us not to worry…all
of this will lead to happy, productive workers and more profitable
companies. That is there are any
citizens with a job or money left to spend!
The Middle Class has rapidly turning into the begging class in recent
decades from what I can see.
The 9-to-5 job has disappeared
The way we work and our relationship to our jobs has changed dramatically
over the last few decades. A report in the Wall Street Journal outlines how
work has become more time-consuming, less stable but also more flexible. In
1973, 6% of Americans complained of working excessive hours, according to a
report based on government data. In 2016, 26% of workers said they usually
worked more than 48 hours a week. Workers act increasingly like free agents in
the job market but a lack of planning for the future will put retirement for
many in doubt. Companies have also become more focused on the needs of shareholders
rather than workers.
The United States has seen a rise of part time jobs and the so-called “Gig”
economy among its labor force as corporations shed many full time jobs in order
to avoid paying full time wages and benefits.
Some folks are now forced to work two, three, even four jobs in order to
survive, often foregoing their roles of positive parenting. Nearly 79% of workers had a high school
degree in 2012 vs. 48% in 1968…but their wages have declined by 23% when
inflation is factored in!
So-Will Robots Buy Wall Street
Products?
There is already more income inequality in America than any other
developed democratic country along with declining wages and increasing costs as
corporations have dumped pensions and other benefits and the government has
eliminated many safety nets in hopes more churches and non-profits assume that
role. Despite that, during the Obama
years the United States set a record for the number of people using food
stamps.
As the wealth gap grows it is important to learn a new skill. I’ve always suggested that people learn a
skilled trade such as plumber, electrician, carpentry, nursing, network
security, etc. I’ll discuss other ways
to stay ahead of the curve in future issues.
Yours
for better living,
Bruce,
the Poor Man
Free Resources
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A Final Note…
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4 comments:
People won't speak out until their job vanishes-that's how it works in America!
I don't know how Millenials are going to make it, especially those saddled with debt from mostly useless college degrees. {Have to laugh..to confirm this feedback, I must confirm I'm not a robot]!
Very interesting article - nice freebies too.
You at least always stick up for the little guy-it is why I like your column. Unsure how to fight Wall Street except to suggest that consumers learn skills that cannot be replaced by robots easily [trades in particular]. Keep up the good work.
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