So... What Do You Think The Plan Will Be... Utopia, or Crematorium ???

[WillyT]

Governments warned: Robots may take half our jobs in 20 years, so prepare for revolution
By Travis Gettys - RawStory
Friday, January 17, 2014 10:44 EST

<snip>

Nearly half of today’s jobs could be automated within the next two decades, according to one recent study, and no one seems to be prepared for what that will mean for society.

Study (.pdf file): http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf

The digital revolution, just as the industrial revolution before it, is increasing productivity but also transforming the workforce – putting workers out of some jobs and into others. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as many of the newly created jobs are higher-paying or less physically demanding, but rapidly changing economies dislocates many workers and transforms societies in unpredictable ways.

The technological “tornado” will hit the rich world first, reported The Economist, but will eventually sweep through poorer countries, reshaping politics and social organizations.

The Economist Article: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21594298-effect-todays-technology-tomorrows-jobs-will-be-immenseand-no-country-ready

Oxford University researchers predicted that 47 percent of U.S. jobs are “at risk” for being automated in the next 20 years – especially in transportation, logistics, office and administrative support work.

The researchers also expressed surprise that service occupations, where most recent U.S. job growth has occurred, are “highly susceptible” to computerization.

For example...

<snip>

More: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/17/governments-warned-robots-may-take-half-our-jobs-in-20-years-so-prepare-for-revolution/

[villager]

1. Vonnegut wrote about exactly this in "Player Piano," in the late 50's

For the "excess" humans that were around -- and that was most everybody -- the corporacracy's answer was to have everyone herded into ghetto like living areas, with a lot of cheap liquor made available...

[WillyT]

2. Yep... And It's Not Like We Have 20 Years...

This has been, is, and will be happening more and more over the next 20 years.

We need to start making some pretty important decisions NOW.

[villager]

3. Something our species clearly excels at, eh?

Okay, I'll try not to be too cynical on this pleasantly sunny, drought-y, wildfire-y California weekend...!

[El_Johns]

5. And drugs.

Both of which provide more profits to the 1% as an added bonus.

[kelly1mm]

6. Hmmmm, not that I am agaist it but could this be why MJ is being legalized, or at least

part of the reason? Keep the sheep mellowed out?

[Orsino]

4. How do games of Musical Chairs usually end?

Imagine all the food, water and shelter in the last chair.

[Armstead]

7. I think society will experience a fundamental breakdown before then

It could be a good breakdown in which we finally realize that we have to fundamentally re-think and readjust our roles in society and the role of commerce and money. Like seeing that people have broader roles, and that the spare time that such a trend would create can be put to constructive and/or enjoyable pursuits in a system that allows for broader coverage of basic needs and ewiser use of resources.

That's the optimistic take.

The pessimistic take is that we continue with business as usual, and we revert into a number of dystopian and possibly apocalyptic scenarios that I don't even want to think about.

[WillyT]

8. I'm Right There With Ya...

[Matariki]

9. This was the 'promise of the future' when I was a kid

and I always thought that instead of working to 'create more jobs' - a favorite of Democrats - we should be working to more fairly distribute wealth. Since the technology to achieve leisure seems inevitable.

Meaning:
- working to create shorter work weeks and guaranteed paid vacation time
- higher taxes on corporations and the very wealthy
- higher social security payments
- social safety nets or even a guaranteed income for every citizen
- universal health care
- (truly) affordable higher education

[woo me with science]

10. +1

[edhopper]

11. !

[img][/img]

[WillyT]

12. Well... There's That...

[WillyT]

13. Kick !!!

[WillyT]

14. This Is One Of Those Threads/Subjects That People Just Don't Want To Consider, Right ???

Sorry.

Still wondering what's gonna happen when unemployment reaches 50%.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

26. I stand with Emma on this one.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Squinch]

15. The birth rate is falling pretty fast. It has halved in 50 years. If that continues, this

might be less of a problem than we think it will be.

[WillyT]

16. I Hear Ya... But I Don't Think That's Gonna Do It...

Especially when right-wingers are insisting on ending abortions, and at the same time callig for a seven day work week.

[Squinch]

18. There is that. And don't forget raising the retirement age. So far-sighted, aren't they?

[WinkyDink]

17. Are you thinking globally here?

[Squinch]

19. The near 50% drop rate is for the US, but birth rates are falling globally.

[WillyT]

20. Kick !!!

[WillyT]

21. And Another...

[WillyT]

22. Last Kick From Me...

[dilby]

23. Pushing my kids into engineering.

Figure if they can't compete with a robot they can at least be the person who designs them.

[Rex]

24. Just think, you get to keep everything that you kill.

nt

[AverageJoe90]

25. To answer the title question.....probably neither. nt

[heaven05]

27. extremely interesting

and disturbing. Societal well being, for the 99%er's, is, as today, at risk. The 1%er's give less than a damn about the people fighting over the crumbs left by them to keep us divided against each other and not concentrating on the inequity of world wide greed capitalism benefiting only the few. The future does not look good. Thanks for the links.

[WillyT]

28. You Are Quite Welcome !!!