The Return of The Luddites?

[Teach]

Yorkshire. Lancashire. Cheshire. Derbyshire. Nottinghamshire. The attacks spread like wildfire. All over the midlands, machines were being smashed, markets were being looted and factories were being burned to the ground. The English Civil War? No. An invading army? No! The Luddites. Yes!

Just over 200 hundred years ago, there was a revolution - of sorts - in England. It was spawned by both The Industrial Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. This technological revolution began in the last half of the 18th century. By the early 19th century, it was spreading throughout Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Items that had been made, in an earlier day, at home, were now being produced faster and more cheaply in factories. The “factory system” was fast displacing the in-home “cottage industries” that had earlier thrived in England and the rest of Europe. Thus, the rise of The Luddites.

As we fast-forward to the second decade of the 21st century, aren’t we, in a manner of speaking, going through similar circumstances?

Years ago, when I was a boy, the only thing one needed was a high school education. That alone might have landed you a good-paying job at a bank, at an insurance company, or at a factory.

Today, in the 21st century, matters are quite a bit different. Even a college degree is no guarantee of a high-paying job. Your father's and grandfather’s job- market are quite a bit different from today’s economic circumstances.

Robots (just look at Japan), artificial intelligence, computers, etc. - the digital revolution - are fast taking over the job market. “People Need Not Apply” may soon become of the watchword of today's “New Economy”.

Many of us hark back to the “Good Ol’ Days” when a job on a GM assembly line brought good wages. Wages that could buy a new home, vacations trips, and even your children’s college education. Frankly, those days are, for all intents and purposes, gone. They’re in your rear-view mirror.

What we have – in a matter of speaking – is the return of The Luddites (named for an Englishman named Ned Ludd). Thankfully, not to a point where's there's violence, but most certainly there is grumbling and disenchantment.

The new administration has offered hope. More jobs. Good-paying jobs. Yet, what jobs will truly be available? That is the question. Personally, I see most jobs that are on the horizon as ones that would be classified as menial. Low-paying positions in an ever-increasing inflationary environment.

A return of The Luddites? I hope not. Cooler heads must hold sway. Logic must prevail. Maybe what’s needed is money being spent on re-training for those entering or seeking to re-enter “The New Economy”.

What’s truly needed is a dose of reality, not "pie in the sky" promises.

[davew]

more like the return of the Crusades - Christians taking back land stolen by Islamic terrorists - 0bama had that right

[boxcar]

Yorkshire. Lancashire. Cheshire. Derbyshire. Nottinghamshire. The attacks spread like wildfire. All over the midlands, machines were being smashed, markets were being looted and factories were being burned to the ground. The English Civil War? No. An invading army? No! The Luddites. Yes!

Just over 200 hundred years ago, there was a revolution - of sorts - in England. It was spawned by both The Industrial Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. This technological revolution began in the last half of the 18th century. By the early 19th century, it was spreading throughout Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean to America. Items that had been made, in an earlier day, at home, were now being produced faster and more cheaply in factories. The “factory system” was fast displacing the in-home “cottage industries” that had earlier thrived in England and the rest of Europe. Thus, the rise of The Luddites.

As we fast-forward to the second decade of the 21st century, aren’t we, in a manner of speaking, going through similar circumstances?

Years ago, when I was a boy, the only thing one needed was a high school education. That alone might have landed you a good-paying job at a bank, at an insurance company, or at a factory.

Today, in the 21st century, matters are quite a bit different. Even a college degree is no guarantee of a high-paying job. Your father's and grandfather’s job- market are quite a bit different from today’s economic circumstances.

Robots (just look at Japan), artificial intelligence, computers, etc. - the digital revolution - are fast taking over the job market. “People Need Not Apply” may soon become of the watchword of today's “New Economy”.

Many of us hark back to the “Good Ol’ Days” when a job on a GM assembly line brought good wages. Wages that could buy a new home, vacations trips, and even your children’s college education. Frankly, those days are, for all intents and purposes, gone. They’re in your rear-view mirror.

What we have – in a matter of speaking – is the return of The Luddites (named for an Englishman named Ned Ludd). Thankfully, not to a point where's there's violence, but most certainly there is grumbling and disenchantment.

The new administration has offered hope. More jobs. Good-paying jobs. Yet, what jobs will truly be available? That is the question. Personally, I see most jobs that are on the horizon as ones that would be classified as menial. Low-paying positions in an ever-increasing inflationary environment.

A return of The Luddites? I hope not. Cooler heads must hold sway. Logic must prevail. Maybe what’s needed is money being spent on re-training for those entering or seeking to re-enter “The New Economy”.

What’s truly needed is a dose of reality, not "pie in the sky" promises.

And just what, exactly, would we train these people to do, since there is such a scarcity of work to be begin with? Should we train them to become skilled robot hunters who will destroy the machines taking their jobs?

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Technology advancements exploded exponentially with the advent of the personal computer in the 70s. Back then, predictions of a cashless society and computers doing everything for us began to surface.

Fortunately, the constant change in technology required new skills and different jobs became available. In addition, people keep writing books explaining how wrong you are at doing things, so processes change to match the new way to do things.

Change in certain areas requiring workers are eternal, e.g., sports, entertainment, fashion. Hatred of that which we do not understand is also eternal, so wars requiring new weapons are not soon going away. Crime is also eternal requiring ever changing security.

New ideas are also eternal. As long as capitalism thrives, entrepreneurs will come up with new ideas enticing interest and jobs to fulfill those ideas. Needless to say, food and water for an exponentially increasing population requires challenges as yet to have been considered.

The space travel industry is in its infancy, while so much of our oceans and the secrets beneath the Earth will be uncovered.

So I don't think there will be an opportunity shortage in the coming generations.

[Clocker]

What’s truly needed is a dose of reality, not "pie in the sky" promises.

Pie in the sky promises like "shovel-ready jobs"?

You have provided zero evidence or theory to show any inclination to anything resembling Luddite activity in this country. Luddites didn't have food stamps, unemployment benefits, free health care, etc.

The only thing that drives modern Americans to violence is the demand for more free stuff or someone saying something that offends their fragile little egos.

[barahona44]

Technology advancements exploded exponentially with the advent of the personal computer in the 70s. Back then, predictions of a cashless society and computers doing everything for us began to surface.

Fortunately, the constant change in technology required new skills and different jobs became available. In addition, people keep writing books explaining how wrong you are at doing things, so processes change to match the new way to do things.

Change in certain areas requiring workers are eternal, e.g., sports, entertainment, fashion. Hatred of that which we do not understand is also eternal, so wars requiring new weapons are not soon going away. Crime is also eternal requiring ever changing security.

New ideas are also eternal. As long as capitalism thrives, entrepreneurs will come up with new ideas enticing interest and jobs to fulfill those ideas. Needless to say, food and water for an exponentially increasing population requires challenges as yet to have been considered.

The space travel industry is in its infancy, while so much of our oceans and the secrets beneath the Earth will be uncovered.

So I don't think there will be an opportunity shortage in the coming generations.

Excellent post:ThmbUp:

[RunForTheRoses]

Anti-capitalist, global warming (I'm sorry climate changers) kooks most resemble Neo-Luddites to me.

[JustRalph]

Stop taking the bait........

[woodtoo]

PDJT is creating thousands of jobs weekly if not daily not to mention
the Wall, there is talk of Pink Floyd performing live from the Wall.
They could tour along the southern border and people could buy a ceremonial brick with donations going toward the actual building.
2017 The year of the brick!:pound:Get your bricks here!

[Jess Hawsen Arown]

Stop taking the bait........

If you're talking about Teach and his stories which are supposed to make us think that Conservatism is evil, I don't mind. When his A does not lead to his B, someone is there to point out the fallacy in his logic.

Frequently, I find his historically accurate A stories have no logical connection to his B conclusions, but that does not stop his A stories from generating some interesting conversation.

[Clocker]

Stop taking the bait........

It's fun to watch the twisted "logic" necessary to get from the parable to the moral of the story, which is always the same: the sky is falling because of the Donald.

I wonder if ObamaCare covers treatment for Trumpophobia. :p

[Tom]

He is the poster boy for absurdity.

[LottaKash]

He is the poster boy for absurdity.


A lefty H.S.teacher, what else would you expect?...

His former prodigy's must have had a big run on Cocoa and Kitties this season...

[Actor]

Thank you for calling ACME, the American Company Manufacturing Everything. Your call is important to us. If you wish to place an order press 1. If you wish to inquire about an existing order press 2. For customer service press 3. For technical support press 4. If you wish to speak to a representative you are out of luck because we do not employ human beings so please hang up and do not call again.

[Actor]

Luddites didn't have food stamps, unemployment benefits, free health care, etc.And that is where we are headed. When the latter day Luddites become the majority they will demand a share of the gross robotic product that is not based on their being employed.

[Murph]

2017 The year of the brick!:pound:Get your bricks here!
IF you could get Pink Floyd to do a show in El Paso, that would be a helluva concert!:headbanger:

[woodtoo]

IF you could get Pink Floyd to do a show in El Paso, that would be a helluva concert!:headbanger:
You are in luck Us and Them tour has 3 shows in Texas July 1, 3, 6, in
San Antonio, Dallas and Houston.
On sale now San Antonio $125 to $199.
Bit of a drive but enjoy.:pound: