So out of respect you put people out of work whilst increasing the profit of the already wealthy - in most cases - shareholders? Is it more dignified to be out work and penniless?

My position, having worked as a checkout assistant FWIW, is the opposite. Using the self-checkout is redistributing money from the poor to the rich, AFAICT: you're saving the company wages, paying the same amount, and doing the work for free.

If the out of work checkout assistants got a living wage then you might be on to something.

I am social democrat, and as such I am for all people to have living wages.. (and I am actually proponent of basic income and progressive taxes)

However, checkout assistants are not very well paid and the job is horrible (it's not the worst, arguably, but could be improved).

I do not however feel responsible for the bad moral decisions of other people. My action in itself doesn't increase profits of the wealthy, it's actions of other people. These people need to be made socially responsible (for example via progressive taxation), not me.

There was a time when you got good money to work in a grocery store, even in a checkout. I have (older) family members who decided not to finish college because they were making so much money at the grocery store, with pensions, in positions that would only pay minimum wage nowadays.

I worked as a grocery checker for a year or so. My dad did it for half his career. It used to be a solid, union job in most places in the us.

It's really not even that bad, if you like talking to people. The checking groceries part can be sort of meditative and relaxing.

I am not from U.S., so I can't compare. Here (Czech Republic) it's usually one of the worst types of employment, rife with abuse (there were cases where employees needed a permission to go to the toilet, had to stand all day for no reason, etc.).

> I prefer automated checkouts out of respect to humans - how terrible job that is!

I prefer automated checkout too - but I'm curious as to why you think the job is "terrible"?

Before my first software development gig, I worked for 6 months as a cashier. I won't say it was all rainbows and roses, but it wasn't "terrible". Hard on the feet (standing), but I was young at the time so it wasn't too big of a deal. Dealing with irate customers could be interesting at time (pass 'em to a manager if you couldn't calm 'em down). Occasionally you'd get someone trying to return an item bought 20 years ago (actually had this happen to me).

But there were also the "regulars": The 70 year old lady who came in every Wednesday to purchase a bunch of liquor - who'd then walk out, and hop into her brand new Vette. The weird cat dude, who always smelled, but was friendly - purchasing a cart full of cat food, and another of rubbing alcohol and swabs (poor cats). The guy you always carded for beer, because he looked underage - and even though you know he wasn't, you did it anyhow, and he complained - but corporate policy, ya know?

Then a break - go face the aisles, or stock new stuff, or pull the old stuff. Have some lunch or some dinner. Eventually close the store, sweep the aisles, clean up, shut down, and go home.

For me, it was an "after school" kind of deal - not a career. But it wasn't a terrible job. Just difficult on the mind and body (it was a bit boring at times). My fellow employees were all friendly, and management was nice and helpful. I always got paid on time, meager as it was.

It gave me a better perspective and understanding for those working behind the counter, because I know what they're going thru. Plus, it also taught me how to properly scan items quickly (though when I started, the place I worked at didn't have scanners - they didn't get those until a couple of months later). Even so, when an item doesn't scan, I find it a bit frustrating, but most systems have a way still to enter the UPC number...

...still, I wouldn't want to go back to those days.