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Re:NY Times Rides in Waymo Robotaxis in SF by ghaff on Tuesday August 22, 2023 @07:14AM (#37221114)
>Do we have a labor shortage, or do we have a shortage at the wages companies are prepared to pay?

There are a ton of services that I'd be happy to have people perform for me, but there's some upper limit to what I'm willing/able to pay. This applies directly or through some (capitalist) intermediary. If it's going to cost me $1,000 for you to cut my lawn, I'll either do it myself or just let it grow.

Re:NY Times Rides in Waymo Robotaxis in SF by ForHackernews on Tuesday August 22, 2023 @07:19AM (#37221142)
Exactly. So what happens when the amount they're willing to pay is much lower than what it costs to live? If the robo lawnmowers will cut grass (and the occasional hand or foot) for $1/hour, what happens to the people who work as landscapers? Maybe you could argue they'll shift higher up the value chain, designing gardens or planting flowers and we'll all have prettier gardens... but I'm not sure the story of the last 50 years has been a race to the top.
Re:NY Times Rides in Waymo Robotaxis in SF by mensetmanusman on Tuesday August 22, 2023 @08:01AM (#37221459)
The profits have raced to the top, but the net wealth generated has also been massive.

This is hopeful because a few gradual policy changes over the decades could keep the wealth creation part and help with the distribution part.

You can’t distribute what’s not there.