Even though the government statistics attempt to confuse the state of employment with their overly optimistic headline reports, it is clear there are more and more long term unemployed. These are people that will not be able to get another living-wage job ever. In addition, the number of underemployed people is increasing. There is no solution to this because the reason for the unemployment will not go away this time. Things are different now, because less people are needed to work than in the past — you can thank technology and a virtually infinite job pool.
At this very moment virtually EVERY company — big or small — in America is trying to figure out how to employ less people, utilize technology, and produce more. I am amused when super dope, CNBC’s Larry Kudlow talks about productivity figures and how they are increasing. This is actually NOT a good thing but stupid Kudlow preaches it like it is. The reason it isn’t good is because it illustrates exactly the reason the unemployed will continue to increase. Basically, productivity is a ratio of what is produced divided by the amount of people needed to produce it. Each time a person is replaced with a machine, productivity increases. In the extreme if all people could be eliminated, productivity would approach infinity — you get the point.
An even more interesting statistic would be American productivity — meaning the ratio of goods produced divided by people employed in America. This statistic is rising even faster because of all the outsourcing to low wage markets. By replacing workers with technology or lower paid works, the cost of products decreases and PROFITS — the holy grail of capitalists — increases. But even the vocabulary is deceiving since most people would think increased productivity is good. It is only good for a few and bad for everybody else. It is the reason the unemployed ranks will increase as Kudlow extols the great increases in productivity.
In practical terms, if you are part of a company where productivity is increasing, you have an increased chance of elimination.
America is Doomed.
Yes, Kudlow is an ass, and a total one. I never could even stand to look at him. He truely is vomit material. They could use him at the Poison Control Center to induce vomiting when something not even as foul as he is gets mistakenly ingested. One way I fight back against mechinization is to never use self checkout lines at stores. I like talking to a cashier. Most are women and very friendly, at least here in Georgia. And I know that many of them are college students or single mothers who really need the job. It’s a small gesture, but if millions of people repeat it, think of how many jobs it would save. So next time you are at the grocery store, Wally World, or a Big Box store, do your part to keep the cashiers employed.