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: 2) by bzipitidoo on Friday June 26 2015, @12:14AM
Plants are successful living organisms that do not labor, or even move much. If they can do it, why can't we? We do have much higher energy requirements, with a particularly intense use being the simple maintenance of a high body temperature. But it isn't an insurmountable obstance.
With help of a few devices, every person could be as self sufficient as plants. Won't need an electric company or water and sewage services, or grocery stores, just need land, sunlight, and raw materials. Would be good to have that option, to keep providers on their toes, make them compete for business and not be a monopoly that gets to take it for granted,
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 27 2015, @04:57PM
So an arcology for one? If you build one, I will buy it!