General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This is the future. It doesn't include jobs for humans. [View all]Silent3
(15,212 posts)We all know that our roads and bridges are in bad shape, and that there are other infrastructure problems, like needing a major upgrade of our power grid, that could be employing many people directly and indirectly. That's just one example off the top of my head where employment could be increased in ways where robots and automation aren't going to greatly replace people all that soon, not in the next ten years, or even twenty perhaps.
In the short term, with different political priorities, we could be doing quite a bit better in the here and now, with our current level of technology, employing more people at better paying jobs and supplying a better safety net for those who would still remain out of work.
In the long term, however, I agree that we will have to come to grips with a whole new way of thinking about how wealth and prosperity and awarded and distributed. One nightmare scenario is one where a largely automated economy is producing vast material wealth, but where inequality is even more greatly magnified rather than raising everyone's standard of living. That's where right wing thinking will take us.