Mark Steyn sees part of the problem, but not all of it. He sees the "what", but he doesn't yet understand the "why."
Automation and technology are taking jobs in a way never seen before. The automatons are actually able to fully replace workers.
Automation and technology are taking jobs in a way never seen before. The automatons are actually able to fully replace workers.
Those who sell the robotic slaves get rich, the ones who have the robotic slaves work for them get rich. The ex-workers get welfare, birth control and abortion. Welfare feeds them enough so they don't revolt and the rest sterilizes them so they don't produce any more unnecessary workers.
This doesn't even rise to the level of Soylent Green.
At least in Soylent, people were useful, even if only as food.
The real future is this: people aren't needed.
At all.
So...
ReplyDeleteClearly I'm missing something about why this is good and desirable...or an inevitable evil...or something.
What am I missing?
Good, desirable and inevitable are three different things.
ReplyDeleteThe world population is going to drop, starting around 2060 or so. That can't be avoided. All the heretics and pagans will stop having kids. Only the orthodox religious will continue to have many children.
So, ultra-Orthodox Jews, fanatical Muslims, serious Christians (including Catholics) and serious Mormons. By 2100, pretty much everyone else will be dead, or so old it won't matter.
There's going to be a new round of religious wars before the 22nd century starts.
Oh well.
ReplyDeleteNothing I can do about any of it. *shrug*
Does make raising a family seem worse than pointless, though.