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When I was in college, many moons ago, one professor told our graduating engineering class that our jobs as engineers is to put people out of work. That is really a harsh statement. But this was at a time when computers were just beginning to be used. Consider the vast number of jobs that have been replaced due to the advent of computers.
One of the main jobs of capitalism, which I am all for, is to introduce labor saving technology into the workplace. In other words, displace jobs, put people out of work.
So now one of the main topics in this election year is unemployment. We have a larger population and fewer jobs. So what are the people in power supposed to do. Each politician says he knows the answer to creating jobs. Do these politicians realize that the system is against them?
The jobs being eliminated by technology are not the low skilled, low paying jobs. Computers have not learned to clean bathrooms or do manual labor jobs. Computers are finding ways to replace the higher paying office jobs.
Consider the jobs that are no longer available or are disappearing. Caboose operators, train engineers are no longer needed. OK, that was not a large employment occupation.
Military and commercial navigators on airlines are not needed due to GPS. Typing pool stenos are disappearing, Most office people type their own documents and send them to a printer.
Hundreds of thousands jobs in the post office no longer exist. There are not as many mail carriers. Mail sorters have taken the largest hit in employment. How much of these postal jobs reductions is due to e-mail? So much business and commerce that was once done via snail mail is now done instantly over the internet.
The banking industry does not need as many employees as they used to have. Teller job have been reduced by ATM machines. I do most of my banking on the internet. It is so amazing that you can even deposit checks over the net.
The travel industry has really been affected by technology. Who needs travel agents anymore? Go online and find the cheapest flight and cheapest hotel room. Make up your own itinerary. The number of airline ticket agents has been greatly reduced, because of lack of need for them.
I hate negative thinking. I consider myself a positive thinking person. But I see no hope for improvement in the job creation field. We must face the facts, there are going to be more and more people available for less and less jobs.
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