RE: Universal Basic Income
May 8, 2017 at 3:14 pm
(This post was last modified: May 8, 2017 at 3:17 pm by Jackalope.)
I'm undecided as to whether UBI is the solution to future economic woes or whether another solution would be more appropriate.
Anecdotally, the software development work I do concerns automation. The major project I was assigned to as senior engineer last year resulted in the automation of what used to require dozens of largely unskilled workers - full time, benefited positions. This year, my major assignment has the same goals - reduce payroll expenses through automation and job elimination.
Those jobs are now gone, forever. They will not be coming back. We are only one of uncounted corporations engaging in similar projects, or in shipping jobs overseas. At one time, the company I work for had hundreds of employees, we now have fewer than 50.
I see a future where, absent intervention, there simply will not be enough jobs to go around. Our current safety nets are inadequate to handle this future.
I personally cannot countenance allowing people pushed out of productive work by Adam Smith's invisible hand to be put out on the streets. In my view, something will need to be done.
ETA -
P.S. I am not happy with my current assignments. I unfortunately have deep enough roots at this position that leaving is currently out of the question. I am working on my exit strategy, however. Regardless, if I didn't do this work, someone else would, and I've come to terms with that.
Anecdotally, the software development work I do concerns automation. The major project I was assigned to as senior engineer last year resulted in the automation of what used to require dozens of largely unskilled workers - full time, benefited positions. This year, my major assignment has the same goals - reduce payroll expenses through automation and job elimination.
Those jobs are now gone, forever. They will not be coming back. We are only one of uncounted corporations engaging in similar projects, or in shipping jobs overseas. At one time, the company I work for had hundreds of employees, we now have fewer than 50.
I see a future where, absent intervention, there simply will not be enough jobs to go around. Our current safety nets are inadequate to handle this future.
I personally cannot countenance allowing people pushed out of productive work by Adam Smith's invisible hand to be put out on the streets. In my view, something will need to be done.
ETA -
P.S. I am not happy with my current assignments. I unfortunately have deep enough roots at this position that leaving is currently out of the question. I am working on my exit strategy, however. Regardless, if I didn't do this work, someone else would, and I've come to terms with that.
