(10-04-2011 03:24 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  I like this from the comment section

Adam

As robots do more of the work, can we as a species PLEASE learn to relax. If a robot can do 50% of my job, why can't I then work 20 hours a week and still have society agree that I have contributed enough to deserve a middle class lifestyle. After all that's all the money is, a social agreement that the person with money has contributed enough to deserve the things that the money can buy. So if society needs less from humans to still thrive at a high level, why can't the amount that we need to contribute to the greater society be lessened? I for one, would enjoy spending more time with family and friends.

If Adam is the one paying for the robots, sure. He should still be entitled to his full pay. Why should a business invest in new technology AND still have to pay a full salary to a worker who is now only doing half the work?

(10-04-2011 03:16 PM)Machiavelli Wrote:  Whoever you open up trade with look at their middle class. That will soon be your middle class. They only thing that kept the charade up for as long as it did was people using their home equity as ATM's. Sprinkle in some gimmicks we can do as the world's reserve currency for some effect too. It's not industry's job to ensure a standard of living. It is incumbent upon our govt. to make sure the playing field is level.

I generally agree with the top portion. As to the bottom, what is unfair/unlevel about the Chinese choosing to live 3 generations to a small house without indoor plumbing or a flat screen? How about the Chinese choosing unfloridated water or 10ppm of bacteria in their drinking water as opposed to 1ppm? About choosing minimal healthcare or retirement benefits.

In summary, exactly what is our government supposed to do if other countries choose to live their lives differently than we do? Isn't this exactly what Bin Laden et al complained about?