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In reply to the discussion: Paul Krugman rediscovers Marxism--what's next? Fire? The wheel? [View all]pampango
(24,692 posts)33. Good point. First agriculture employed most workers in the US, then manufacturing.
Since both agriculture and manufacturing have been mechanized/automated the service sector/government is the largest sector of employment.
In the future our food will be grown by a tiny percentage and the stuff we use will be made by a small percentage, which will leave us essentially providing specialized services to each other. That is hard to imagine, but 200 years ago it was probably hard to imagine an economy where 90% of the people did not work on a farm.
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Paul Krugman rediscovers Marxism--what's next? Fire? The wheel? [View all]
Starry Messenger
Dec 2012
OP
This little glitch (I refuse to call it a problem) is easily solved by a move to employee owned
1-Old-Man
Dec 2012
#5
Marx agrees, as long as "living wage" means "exactly the cost of life and reproduction".
DireStrike
Dec 2012
#58
Krugs is happy to accept the boom and bust, wealth and misery, as long as Keynes is there
byeya
Dec 2012
#10
I agree with you, I think this is probably a temporary wobble in his world-view.
Starry Messenger
Dec 2012
#11
Yes, he was stunned by the ignorance and wobbled but he's still all capitalism all the time but with
byeya
Dec 2012
#15
I agree with all that--plus the Red Scare which was really aimed at killing labor.
Starry Messenger
Dec 2012
#16
To regain clout, labor somehow(and will need many allies) needs to rid the nation of 14(b);
byeya
Dec 2012
#17
The myth that all capitalism needs is a pinch of reform and a dash of regulation is very useful
entanglement
Dec 2012
#47
He knows who butters his bread. Like all but the tiniest fringe of rich people, they don't
Egalitarian Thug
Dec 2012
#45
In my opinion, making Marxism a forbidden word when used in a positive context, stems
byeya
Dec 2012
#18
I'm old. I have never seen the ruling class so brazen about their intent to grab all they can from
byeya
Dec 2012
#20
Since manufacturing is a small percent of workforce, automated manufacturing has a modest effect
FarCenter
Dec 2012
#22
We're already living with that to a certain extent. Make a phone call and you get
byeya
Dec 2012
#23
Good point. First agriculture employed most workers in the US, then manufacturing.
pampango
Dec 2012
#33
or maybe it will leave 10% providing specialized services and most of the rest as a dispossessed
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#35
Not sure of your point. If manufacturing does not provide 10%, 20%, 30% of the jobs, we are doomed?
pampango
Dec 2012
#36
lawn-mowing is a service. it doesn't provide an income that can support a family, generally
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#38
no, most entertainers make nowhere near enough to support 100 families. most entertainers
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#53
yes, jobs change. that fact is basically irrelevant to the direction of the distribution of wealth
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#56
i think the mix of production v. service actually does matter, though. production produces new
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#62
You're not understanding me. I'm talking about international trade. You can't trade lawnmowing
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#64
service exports weren't covering hard goods imports last time i checked the trade figures.
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#66
i will be happy to cheer on the reduction of work hours when it appears it's going to come with
HiPointDem
Dec 2012
#78
An 18th century economic system controlled by a 9th century class system ruling over
Egalitarian Thug
Dec 2012
#37
'A 9th century class system' - that would be Feudalism, yes? Or did
coalition_unwilling
Dec 2012
#40
No, I meant 9th century, but it is merely a convenient period from western European history.
Egalitarian Thug
Dec 2012
#41
This is why I dropped economics in school. It doesn't allow you to see the patently obvious.
joshcryer
Dec 2012
#69