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    HarlotOScaraHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 2:03pm
    Millions of lost jobs. Millions of workers that no longer fit into our modern economy. Millions of families without a way to pay the bills.

    Or they could get jobs servicing the robots and other automated systems, and make a good deal money than working in the fast-food industry. Your assumption is that these people aren’t qualified or intelligent enough to do anything else, and that they have no motivation to get another job or better their positions. No, not everyone can do that, but consistently talking down to people doesn’t help.

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      Cherith CutestoryHarlotOScara
      3/25/16 2:08pm

      It’s absurd to think there will be the need for as many people to service machines as there is to wait on people and cook food and clean.

      There will be nothing like the same number of jobs created as lost.

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      RenegadeRoyHarlotOScara
      3/25/16 2:15pm

      “No, not everyone can do that”

      Exactly, that’s the problem. Those jobs would require special education and/or training that isn’t feasible/affordable to those getting their jobs automated. You’re also assuming that those “robot repair jobs” aren’t going to go to someone who already has an engineering degree, and/or someone more qualified who has been supplanted due to automation.

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    Cherith CutestoryHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:57pm

    Who the hell do these people think will be purchasing items in their restaurants if no one has money?

    It seems like an essential part of capitalism that everyone forgets is the need to spread capital around.

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      BIMming ItCherith Cutestory
      3/25/16 2:04pm

      Especially hilarious when referencing fast food, which is overwhelmingly consumed by the lower and middle classes.

      You’re going to automate a service that won’t be needed once automation takes hold, because no one has money to buy the food, thus eliminating the need for automation.

      End result? Either the robots work for the people’s benefit, or they aren’t feasible.

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      Cherith CutestoryBIMming It
      3/25/16 2:06pm

      Exactly! You aren’t exactly serving the 1%, buddy.

      Even Walmart has come to a sort of grudging understanding of this recently.

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    Emerald D.V.Hamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:56pm

    Last week, Puzder made news when he said that he wants to open an “employee-free” restaurant, where all front-of-house tasks are automated.

    How is this not Horn & Hardart, but for millennials? It sounds like back of house will still be run by people.

    Also, universal basic income is a good idea, and nobody will eat at your neo-automat if nobody has any money.

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      SCPRedMageEmerald D.V.
      3/25/16 1:59pm

      Those “back of the house” jobs already exist, so automating the “front of the house” jobs doesn’t just push the employees to the back, it eliminates them.

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      Doofenschmirtz, Inc.Emerald D.V.
      3/25/16 2:00pm

      No sit-down restaurant or fast food joint can exist without front of house people.

      You think people who eat at those places are going to clean up after themselves at the tables, condiment stations and keep the bathroom clean? HA.

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    ARP2Hamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:57pm

    Unless you eliminate the minimum wage and government mandated benefits (or stop the advances), millions will be out of work due to automation. Nobody is going to support them to sit around a be lazy.

    (that’s the implicit threat)

    The economy isn’t a zero sum game, but it’s not as elastic as the Randians think.

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      Sarah Palin DenierARP2
      3/25/16 2:04pm

      I don’t think it’s a threat, I think it’s a fact of life... The higher the cost of labor, the quicker you get a return via automation. It’s not crazy for businesses to maximise profit, even at the expense of (former) employees.

      There has to be a solution beyond minimum wages (and a universal income). We need to rebuild our educational system and actually develop and nurture talent (especially in low income areas).

      That’s not the CEOs job, he’s just pointing out market trends.

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      BurnerAccout004ARP2
      3/25/16 2:09pm

      They will support them to prevent them from rioting.

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    ArdenHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:57pm

    What is our best bet for the first automated/computer program-run shit collar job? Legal? It just needs an understand of logical arguments and application of historical legal precedence. Graphic designer? We already have apps that people can drag/drop create their own logos. Stock broker? Most transactions are automated these days anyways.

    No one cares about the workers and automation now because it’s all manual labour jobs, and fuck those people, amirite fellow 1%-ers!? But when robots and computer algorithms come for THEIR jobs, which do you think it will be and how loudly will they decry it?

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      ARP2Arden
      3/25/16 2:04pm

      Agreed, we already see outsourcing/automation of accounting, legal and certain medical functions. The work isn’t great, but it’s often “good enough” and the costs savings more than make up for it.

      The idea that any profession is safe is misplaced. There was a prediction in the 60's that by this time, we’d be working 20 hours a week and have unprecedented leisure time. That failed to account for world market economies and increasing levels of greed and contempt for the poor.

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      BurnerAccout004Arden
      3/25/16 2:09pm

      Blockchain will eliminate a large number of people in the banking sector and predicting coding will remove the need for a lot of lawyers currently being used for discovery and review.

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    MomarSzyslakHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:51pm

    Oh c’mon. People have been saying Machines are going to take our jobs. It hasn’t happened. It won’t happen.

    Though a negative income tax isn’t a terrible idea. I’m sure HamNo loves Milton Friedman!!

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      cowabungabungaMomarSzyslak
      3/25/16 1:57pm

      is this a joke? of course it’s happened.

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      ReburnsABurningReturnscowabungabunga
      3/25/16 2:06pm

      Well, yes, specific jobs have been lost, but net/net our economy still has more jobs today than it had yesterday, or before automation and outsourcing “cost” us millions of jobs. The bigger issue is the displacement of individual workers and the fact that some of those new jobs don’t pay as well.

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    Frankenbike666Hamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 2:37pm

    But hey, let’s have a whole political party dedicated to a war on birth control and abortion for the poorest people. So we ensure we have a large permanent underclass that keeps expanding while there are fewer and fewer opportunities to make a living for their children.

    The service industry is the last employer in America that hires unskilled labor. When that’s gone, there will be no opportunities at all for those who have difficulties with school.

    But hey, let’s keep pretending that every American has an IQ of 120, and let’s keep treating those who can’t succeed at education, like they’re inferior and don’t deserve a job as much as you and your children do.

    What’s the worst that can happen with a desperate underclass that can’t find employment and a whole political party that just wants those people to die, that wants those people poisoned by their drinking water wherever possible, and if that doesn’t work, starve their children to death, and not cost the wealthy any money?

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      Hello_Madam_PresidentFrankenbike666
      3/25/16 2:41pm

      When that’s gone, there will be no opportunities at all for those who have difficulties with school.

      God, or even for those who just aren’t THERE yet. Students need to work, too. Also, we don’t pay for people’s education. “Get educated” is not a free, instant thing that anyone can just do.

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      QuestionEverythingBeLessDumbFrankenbike666
      3/25/16 3:48pm

      This is an economic problem, not a political problem. The burgeoning population in the US is a huge problem — regardless if the population increase arises from lack of access to birth control, or a huge influx of people from the rest of the world. 2013 had more than one million legal immigrants and likely many more illegal immigrants. Yet, entry level jobs are decreasing. Once those are automated, the the next level of jobs will be automated.

      What are the candidate’s solutions to containing population and GROWING job opportunities?

      The post-2008 recession jobs recovery — were the jobs “good jobs” or were they the low skill jobs that are being automated? If Hillary is going to continue O’s policies, we are going to go down a rat hole.

      http://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-…

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    toothpetardHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 1:49pm

    automate employees out of existence

    One of the unexpected truths automation is revealing is that jobs are for robots.

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      Fred Garvin Male Prostitutetoothpetard
      3/25/16 2:01pm
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      butcherbakertoiletrymakertoothpetard
      3/25/16 2:10pm

      Is that what I think it is?

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    Mr.Spaghetti! The Gentildouche YearsHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 2:03pm

    See, I’m conflicted.

    On one hand, I absolutely want everybody to have good jobs that pay the bills.

    On the other hand, as someone who eats fast food daily:

    I often circle the parking lot of my 3-4 neighborhood fast food restaurants to eyeball who is working before going in, or using the drive-thru.

    Because some of the FOH employees are so surly, unpleasant, and/or incompetent that I will choose to forgo the delicious, unhealthy cuisine provided - to avoid having to interact with FOH barrier.

    The worst is late at night when this particularly angry Taco Bell creep’s assholery denies me that Mexican Pizza that I crave. And so I go over to Subway for the friendly crew, and the double meatball sub.

    I end up going to Subway far too often, when I need that Mexican Pizza.

    Also, I’m an asshole.

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      feistessMr.Spaghetti! The Gentildouche Years
      3/25/16 2:41pm

      They’re probably surly because they’re making jack and shit for their efforts. I’ve noticed that too. You can kind of tell which places treat their employees well by how they act when they interact with you.

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      bcallawayMr.Spaghetti! The Gentildouche Years
      3/25/16 3:02pm

      When you know the staff at all the FF eateries in your area, it’s time to rethink your lifestyle!

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    KaiserserserHamilton Nolan
    3/25/16 3:29pm

    Where do you draw the line between “Evil capitalist automating his business and robbing these poor victims of their jobs” and “Progressive businessman/woman who is utilizing technology to maximize the efficiency of their company”

    If you’re my employee and I have an option to replace you with something cheaper and more efficient, why is it my job to make sure you have a new drone job to do instead of your job to find a way to make yourself useful to society?

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      Cherith CutestoryKaiserserser
      3/25/16 3:43pm

      He’s arguing for a supplied basic income. Not against automation.

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      KaiserserserCherith Cutestory
      3/25/16 3:51pm

      He’s arguing that the automation is only acceptable if it is offset by a basic income. You’re splitting hairs if you think that’s not reasonably considered “against” automation then you’re splitting some hairs.

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