Fareed Zakaria is talking about "Fury in France" over them raising their retirement age

[Uncle Joe]

from 62 to 64 speaks of France having fewer workers per retired person since 1980 but mentions nothing about the increased use of automation and robotics over the past 40+ years.

Tax the robots.

[hlthe2b]

1. I see this as their line in the sand... They see our system and are rightfully appalled...

(not merely by the retirement age).

I hate to make the comparison, but the attitude is a bit akin to gun-toters who believe any new regulation/restrictions will be the beginning of the end.

In the French example, I see their point even though I will suffer under a much more restrictive and threatened system. The second example is, well, you know...

[J_William_Ryan]

2. It also illustrates the remnants

of cradle to the grave socialism in France.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

5. Social programs are not "socialism." France has an advanced capitalist economy that generates

the wealth that makes such generous social programs possible.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. The French government does have stakes in various companies, though

In 2016, the total of its stakes was worth €90bn and the companies employed 1.7 million. https://www.ft.com/content/9be75d5c-a72e-11e6-8898-79a99e2a4de6

and it now owns 90% of the electricity utility: https://www.energylivenews.com/2023/01/23/france-now-owns-90-of-edf/ , which also has significant business outside France: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89lectricit%C3%A9_de_France

[gulliver]

3. If you don't tax the robots, you give them a competitive advantage

It's obvious they should be taxed. Both FICA and income tax should be levied against robots. Just assume that they would be "paid" at a nominal rate if they were human, and tax them accordingly. There needs to be more of a balance between human labor and automation. The automation owner should get some benefit, of course, but the human laborers should get something too.

It's not an easy balance to strike, but that's why we have laws and regulations.

[Uncle Joe]

4. That's the way I see it, without doing so

would no doubt lead to a dystopian future; with increasing numbers of humans becoming irrelevant.

[Dave says]

6. Perfect!