John Nichols and Robert McChesney on the emerging jobless economy

[marmar]

Sobering and scary, but also hopeful:

Published on Mar 19, 2016

Humanity is on the verge of its darkest hour or its greatest moment.

The consequences of the technological revolution are about to hit hard: unemployment will spike as new technologies replace labor in the manufacturing, service, and professional sectors of an economy that is already struggling. The end of work as we know it will hit at the worst moment imaginable: as capitalism fosters permanent stagnation, when the labor market is in decrepit shape, with declining wages, expanding poverty, and scorching inequality. Only the dramatic democratization of our economy can address the existential challenges we now face. Yet, the US political process is so dominated by billionaires and corporate special interests, by corruption and monopoly, that it stymies not just democracy but progress.

The great challenge of these times is to ensure that the tremendous benefits of technological progress are employed to serve the whole of humanity, rather than to enrich the wealthy few. Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols, authors of People Get Ready: The Fight Against a Jobless Economy and a Citizenless Democracy, argue that the United States needs a new economy in which revolutionary technologies are applied to effectively address environmental and social problems and used to rejuvenate and extend democratic institutions. Based on intense reporting, rich historical analysis, and deep understanding of the technological and social changes that are unfolding, they propose a bold strategy for democratizing our digital destiny before it's too late and unleashing the real power of the Internet, and of humanity.

Recorded 3/9/16

[snot]

1. Some of this has been predicted since the '70's;

only then, it was assumed that the benefits of work-saving devices would flow to everyone generally. The work week would get shorter and shorter, without any reduction in our standard of living.

[Skittles]

2. Bernie playing the eagle

omg that is awesome

[snot]

3. Wish I could take credit for making it. :)

[jwirr]

5. That was because the machines would be made in the USA.

Nobody talked about off shoring jobs. And it did work for a
while until jobs started going to China. Oh and I also remember the auto imports from Japan that were hurting Detroit.

Once again I think they are thinking that we need money to buy the stuff etc.

[appalachiablue]

4. Watch the Video and Learn, seriously well done by McChesney and Nichols.