Re: The robot economy (AKA how robots will steal your jobs)

From: The Trucker (mikcob_at_verizon.net)
Date: 07/30/04 

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 14:24:33 -0700

Matt Timmermans wrote:

>
> "Mark Monson" <m_monson@ztech.com> wrote in message
> news:QgeOc.58291$Yw3.55317@bignews3.bellsouth.net...
>> Remember that workers are the active force in a free economy. Workers
>> use
> better
>> tools in order to produce the things that workers want to consume. In a
> free
>> economy there is no way for technology to permanently keep people from
> producing
>> what they want; no way for better tools to keep workers idle when they
> are willing
>> to work to produce.
>
> Unfortunately, there are 3 factors of production. Economic pressure
> causes
> the best land to be allocated to its most efficient use. Land owners will
> want it worked using the most efficient processes and tools, because that
> maximizes the available rent. That denies personal productivity to anyone
> who can't add value within that most efficient process.

We see that the problem is in BELIEVING that there are only 3 factors
and in keeping the forth and currently most important factor well
hidden. That hidden factor is sheer power. It is the power of wealth
and station. It is the power to control information and to misinform
and to misdirect and mislead so as to remain in power. It is power
that SUPPORTS ownership of any and of all kinds and power is absolutely
essential to the existence of "property rights".

Land owners can be made extinct in a rational and just world by properly
defining the term "property" as that which is produced by labor; that
which is an extention of the self.

>> Like a stone ax, a machine is simply a tool. Workers don't compete with
> tools. In
>> system with open natural opportunities, workers utilize tools to produce
> what they
>> want.
>
> You may be good with an axe, but you can't use it to make a living as a
> logger -- the company that owns the logging rights gets a good deal from
> the
> guys with the big machines. They're not going to pay you any more per
> tree than they pay those guys, and that's not enough to buy food when
> you're
> cutting down one tree at a time with an axe. If you can't operate the big
> machines, then you can't be a logger at all.

So what. If the state sends you a citizen's dividend as your share of
the RENT or the payment for harvesting the trees from YOUR land then
you need not worry too much about starvation and you will probably
find a way to improve your meager existence (i.e. you will have time
to learn).

> Workers don't compete with tools, but they *do* compete with other workers
> for the use of land, among other things. Better tools allow the workers
> who can use them to undercut the others, while actually increasing their
> real
> income.

As it should be but I think the term "undercut" a bit harsh. You seem
to be saying that the more educated/capable workers will horde all the
goods and starve the less educated/capable. In a rent redistribution
system (even a negative income tax system (puke)) some privation may
exist, but starvation does not. Nor could one be prevented from gaining
education.

> They increase the productivity of the land, which allows for
> higher returns to all of land, (their) labour, and capital,

Consider that these returns to land are shared and that
tools _*ARE*_ "Capital". (perhaps you are talking about money
or power).

> and they
> increase the productivity of workers, allowing the land to be worked with
> fewer individuals, who are paid more, while still allowing higher rents
> and profits.

So if the land rent is redistributed in equal amounts then there is no
need for welfare and the productive STILL have a much better life
style than the lazy bums. 

-- 
http://GreaterVoice.org (a work in progress)

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