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Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

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Re: Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

#111

And therein lies the real problem with Yang’s outlook. It’s not just unrealistic. It’s lazy. And this is why Yang is the most prescient of any of the candidates. He looked at the problem, broke it down into its basic components, extrapolated what was going to happen, and found the most straightforward answer (UBI) from the large search space of possible solutions. You know, like a computer programmer would. So I fund…

> If I had a budget of a few million dollars But 1k a month would make this happen? If 1k UBI is causing this tragedy of the commons then you owe it to yourself to fix this, earn more, move to LCOL area and start curing diseases

$1000 a month 12 months a year 10 people team 10 years.

That's 1.2 million.

Re: Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

#112
I develop key performance indicator software for my company's manufacturing plants. It's basically a real time analytics dashboard that also trends data over time. One of the results of this software has been a better understanding of the efficiencies (or really the lack thereof) and bottlenecks in our processes. Identifying and understanding these KPIs has allowed our pilot plant to cut significant labor costs without losing any productivity (no one was fired, the positions in question weren't refilled due to attrition, which is always high in a manufacturing job).

My point being, it isn't just robots and automation that reduce the labor workforce. Better data and analytics are also having an effect, a trend I don't see slowing down. As the market continues to shrink for the blue collar workforce, something will definitely need to happen so as to not disenfranchise large groups of people. Whether a freedom dividend is the answer or not is up for debate. I think it will help more than it will harm. There's always going to be someone who finds a way to game the system (the perceived welfare queens). For many, though, an extra $1000 a month would literally be life-changing.

Re: Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

#113
post #65

Yang is totally wrong about automation. The main cause of the shift of manufacturing from US to China is trade policy and China’s monetary policy. If automation was the problem, then US would be price competitive on goods with China. Somehow US automation is only good enough to eliminate jobs in the US, but not good enough to compete with cheap labor in China.

Manufacturing is probably the worst example because trade policy has definitely had an impact there. However, look at other industries: Tier-1 tech support being replaced by chat bots, order-takers being replaced by kiosks and apps, realtors being replaced by self-service apps (ie redfin). Whether by outsourcing or automation, the cause is the same: Loss of low-skilled jobs in return for cheaper products & services.…

Sorry that is just plain wrong. As of 2019 support services are mostly outsourced to India/Philippines or other places. US call center jobs lost to chatbots vs India is negligible at this point.

Redfin has a tiny fraction of real estate sales, and hasn’t broken into it anywhere locally, or is showing any real signs that it will. Turns out it’s a little harder to self serve a home purchase vs a cab or vacation rental.

Re: Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

#114
Just more of a smear against Yang. The establishment is afraid.

Also the tint of anti Asian American racism - similar to SV when the hiring team or management group tries to talk themselves into finding reasons to not like a qualified candidate that does not fit the mold of the obediant Asian worker drone. Usually done insidiously to cast doubt on a person's character etc.

Re: Andrew Yang's ideas on automation and mass unemployment are not based in reality

#115
post #91

“You're creating a slippery slide transfer straight into socialism” This seems to beg the question: "Would Amazon be less successful if it paid a living wage to those who labor in its warehouses and those who work to manufacture the products it sells?"

1. Does Amazon get away with paying warehouse workers less than others? 2. Are you presuming no one else will pay them a living wage either so they MUST work at Amazon? 3. Are Amazon warehouse workers prevented from getting living wage jobs elsewhere?

Those are stupid excuses posing as questions, but I'll play along and answer them...

1. Yes 2. No & Yes 3. Yes

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