The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars

Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by flatline on Saturday October 05, 2019 @02:38PM (#21167152)

I don’t think people have a right to a job. But I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone. When we can’t depend on the profits of individual’s labor to support them for life any more - which will increasingly be the case according to the current trajectory - something else must be done. This goes beyond the very real issues of wealth disparity and to a much more fundamental problem that comes with automation at these levels.

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by toomuchtodo on Saturday October 05, 2019 @02:47PM (#21167198)

We have a responsibility as a society to ensure that a framework exists (social safety nets, effective public policy) to allow someone to work towards finding purpose without starving or going homeless. If someone wants to cheat and call that a job guarantee, I’m fine with that. And in the long run, it’s cheaper than the alternative. It’s not just the moral thing to do, it’s compassionate and economically efficient.

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by mjevans on Saturday October 05, 2019 @08:42PM (#21168993)

I agree with everything except it being cheating.

That's the government providing baseline competition (and non broken-window public works) to serve as something for private entities to beat.

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by toomuchtodo on Saturday October 05, 2019 @09:36PM (#21169251)

I meant cheating in the sense of what you call it (which isn’t important).

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by klyrs on Saturday October 05, 2019 @03:29PM (#21167431)

> I don’t think people have a right to a job.

Pragmatic considerations may override your personal beliefs in this matter. American culture strongly ties self-worth to productivity. Take away folks' ability to meaningfully contribute to society, and they will cease to see themselves as a part of that society. On the other hand, we have a strong cultural identity surrounding gun ownership, and we're seeing rapid polarization in politics. So what's the natural consequence when your populace is bored, disenfranchised and heavily armed? Sounds like a powderkeg to me

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by CinchWrench on Saturday October 05, 2019 @03:07PM (#21167310)

>I do think that we as a society have a responsibility for baseline care of everyone.

If you give people a floor like that, you have to keep them doped up enough to be content with it. Or engineer a more complacent human.

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Re:The GM strike is really about the switch to electric cars by travisjungroth on Saturday October 05, 2019 @03:21PM (#21167387)

That’s like the opposite point of a baseline of care. You don’t give everyone enough to be content by default, but enough to get by and have a chance at earning more.

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