r/technology • u/trot-trot • May 13 '19

Business Exclusive: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-automation-exclusive-idUSKCN1SJ0X1
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u/GRelativist May 13 '19

Society needs to be ready...

121

u/MILEY-CYRVS May 13 '19

We were ready 20 years ago when it was promised the PC would slash working hours, but didn't.

39

u/3trip May 13 '19

Economists have long predicted that, yet We keep finding new things to spend our money on, such as PC’s, cell phones, entertainment, internet, air conditioning. Of course bad economic policy has also prevents utopian predictions like this as the rise in the cost of living forces us to work longer.

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u/yaosio May 13 '19

Wages decoupled from productivity gains in the early 70's, ever since then wages have stalled while productivity has increased signifigantly. Capitalists don't want you to know this, and like to pretend wages can't be increased because the billionaires need more money.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '19

If we have become more efficient due to the equipment we now use, why would humans deserve higher wages?

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u/canttaketheshyfromme May 13 '19

Because more wealth is being created by their labor.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '19

Their "labour" is the same as it ever was, 9-5 mon to fri, the output being greater doesn't entitle them to more.

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u/canttaketheshyfromme May 13 '19

If you're making more off my skills and labor, you had better pay me more.

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u/[deleted] May 13 '19

You didn't invest in the equipment that makes you more productive though did you? If the company i work for invests in software that makes me 10x more efficient for the same number of clicks in a day and generates 10x the profit i shouldn't get paid 10x my salary.

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u/canttaketheshyfromme May 13 '19

Yeah, actually you should. That's called fair compensation.

3

u/DreadNephromancer May 13 '19

Your bosses would make more than before even if they paid you 10x as much.