F.A. Hayek and and Milton Friedman, among a host of others have advocated a government provided basic income.

Yes, I know that sounds pretty repugnant, but I keep coming back to a solution like this when I imagine a world where sufficient goods and services for the entire population can be produced with minimal human effort.

See Isaaic Asimov's "I, Robot".

Skynet coming to a world near you!

There's a real easy fix for that, of course: abolish the minimum wage. Robotics and automation are everywhere for one single reason: it's cheaper and easier to have a computer do the job than to pay for a human.

Now I'm in computers, so I'm not worried about my job going away. But I am worried about my kids being able to get those first few jobs and experience that get them into the labor force and those are the jobs being lost to automation because government rules are making them too expensive for business owners to offer!

Sounds feasible but a little unsavory. Sounds a little like, "reservations". Do you have an idea in mind?

we're lucky -- we have some neighbors who are
wonderful, over here!!! -- j
.

You are right, wiggys (on both counts)...my neighbors might as well be robots.

Jan

We are going to figure out what type of economic system that will work if there is simply not enough productive work for the majority of the people to have jobs.

Unfortunate and dismal, but can't argue.

Racism, and every type of tribalism, is just a made-up metric that a lot of non-thinking people got sucked into, because it's easier than thinking. With technology, that shortcut will prove to be sub optimal, because it will more and more be important to THINK.

The clash with those who have no ambition or discipline is inevitable. Those who refuse to think must understand that that choice will put them at the bottom, permanently.

your neighbors are not gulch members nor do they think like gulch members. therefore conversation is difficult. trust me on this one. and today is an even numbered day.

...and the value of manual labor plummets even further, eventually causing riots among those with thumbs, but no ambition or discipline.

Velcro.

I guess I will buy a used one, like my car.
I suspect we are a (human) generation or two from used robots being nearly as functional as new, but at least the programming should be upgradable to some extent. Can I code it in java? ;^)
Its only 2 generations since those early computers.

Bradbury was twisted ;^)

It's still early in the process, but when we hit the threshold for an effective home aid robot the market will be massive and the price will come down.

Once the technology matures, there's no reason a home robot should cost more than a car.

WS, this is prime time for inventors! . magnetic
shirt buttons, for example. -- j
.

My body is breaking down in increments. As I lose control due to increased pain or whatever, will my solution be a robot or a storage shelf in a nursing home? If I get to the point where I can no longer take care of myself, I am fortunate that I am surrounded by people who love me, and feel capable of taking care of me should the situation arise. Unfortunately there are many not in this situation who cannot afford robotic assistance.

Old people's problems aside, there is no doubt that robotics will play an increasing part in human lives. This year can most likely compared to 1980, when computers were first making their appearance. Soon, robots of varying kinds will be as common as pets are today.

It does not sound too bad to me. Item: I am having a lot of fun in this 'virtual Gulch' as opposed to personally talking to my neighbors.

Jan

I read a telling first person account of someone who had been in a wheelchair for some years. He had gotten access to some prosthetics that allowed him to walk again - albeit in a limited fashion. He said that until he was crippled he had not realized what it was like to go through life 'staring at people's crotch'...because that is where a wheelchair puts your eyes.

Anything that can get people like this back on their feet again is good in my book.

May I add my "headshake to yours, khalling? Talk about looking the gift horse of technology in the mouth!

Jan

Haha! Iron Man now non-fiction.

But what happens when these docile companion robots get infected with malware? Picture a robotic "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane".

And Ray Bradbury would laugh!

Appears relevant to me, also, William. Possibly the person flagged it in error. Thank you for posting.

People will still talk if they think they'd like each other. But no one will be forced to talk to those they don't like any longer. This is a true improvement (and one the SJWs will certainly try to outlaw, once they figure out that it's happening).

So we shouldn't be concerned about racism at all.
Another misguided misdirection from Emperor O.