Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Are Jobs Obsolete?

I found an interesting article on CNN about how the need for a job coming into question. I think this article is pretty reasonable. Each year it becomes more clear that technology will be replacing more of our jobs. I know I Have no interest in making a daily commute part of my routine. While I love to drive, I also would love to be able to read a book each morning and evening that I have to commute. 

Beyond that, we don't need to bother with as much mail as we used to, we have instantaneous communication. There are hundreds of other examples of industries that will be replaced. Heck, the financial industry is mostly commanded by software anyways - banks lay off more people and see their profits just increase. We can create automated systems to grow our crops and brew our beer.
At some point, the idea of recession because ordinary citizens can't get their hands on discretionary income (jobs) will expand to the point that we have to consider the lack of income as a symptom, as well as the lack of jobs is a symptom. The real problem is that we need to find a new way to order our society. We should value innovation and new ideas and progress more than a 60 hour work week just to make ends meet.