Read this interesting essay written by DEREK THOMPSON
For centuries, experts have predicted that machines would make workers obsolete. That moment may finally be arriving. Could that be a good thing ?
The end of work is still just a futuristic concept for most of the United States, but it is something like a moment in history for Youngstown, Ohio, one its residents can cite with precision: September 19, 1977.
For much of the 20th century, Youngstown's steel mills delivered such great prosperity that the city was a model of the American dream, boasting a median income and a home ownership rate that were among the nation's highest. But as manufacturing shifted abroad after World War II, Youngstown steel suffered, and on that gray September afternoon in 1977, Youngstown Sheet and Tube announced the shuttering of its Campbell Works mill. Within five years, the city lost 50,000 jobs and $1.3 billion in manufacturing wages. The effect was so severe that a term was coined to describe the fallout: regional depression.
Youngstown was transformed not only by an economic disruption but also by a psychological and cultural breakdown. Depression, spousal abuse, and suicide all became much more prevalent; the caseload of the area's mental-health center tripled within a decade. The city built four prisons in the mid-1990s—a rare growth industry. One of the few downtown construction projects of that period was a museum dedicated to the defunct steel industry.
The future will tell us whether or not this pans out as he envisions. What does SN think will happen ?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 25 2015, @02:44PM
a world without work is a world without money?
but if money is the steering wheel of the global sheep
mobile how are you one-percenter going to steer this monster truck?
srsly tho i recall the conversation a few thousand years ago on the beach in loincloth:
"dude, the island is kindda starting to feel small"
"yeah, i know what you mean. last week we had to decide where everybody has to shit"
...
both glance out on to the open ocean, that has a small visible hump on the horizon.
"maybe we should try?"
"they won't give us the wood to try ..."
(Score: 2) by kurenai.tsubasa on Thursday June 25 2015, @03:07PM
—Glirastes