Submitted by Scarlet_pot2 t3_119p5js in singularity
phriot t1_j9obwdm wrote
Reply to comment by ghostfuckbuddy in Bernie Sanders proposes taxes on robots that take jobs by Scarlet_pot2
It depends how you implement the tax. I voted for Bernie in 2016, but he definitely wants to preserve human jobs, rather than ensure dignity and prosperity when jobs no longer make sense. IIRC, in the past he was for a jobs guarantee over a UBI, for example.
I'm not a tax or policy expert, but I assume the better way to do this would be to tax the economic output of automation systems, rather than tax companies for replacing a human worker.
visarga t1_j9p62fh wrote
Jobs can be created by the government by investing in public works. Win-win, make jobs, and get the improved infra.
phriot t1_j9pmyej wrote
I'm all for infrastructure spending. But if when we get to a point where it's like "the overall economy is so productive due to automation, that we can pay essentially the same to have a person go pursue whatever passions they may have, or have them work on an infrastructure project that will get completed whether or not humans are involved," then why force people to dig ditches, just so we can give them "a job."
In the short term, sure. Maybe a jobs guarantee will be good for displaced data entry office worker drones. But if you want to get there by forcing a company to choose a human or efficiency and a huge tax bill, and then using the tax money from the companies that choose efficiency to tell the displaced workers "You can put up these solar panels, or get nothing," then I think you're hurting both the economy and the displaced workers.
Nanaki_TV t1_j9pe99z wrote
> Jobs can be created by the government by
A job created by the government is a job not created by the market for a reason. If the job was needed someone with interest in the sector would have already created the job, You'd miss the opportunity for other more meaningful jobs are the resources are allocated inefficiently for this government job instead.
rushmc1 t1_j9ppwq8 wrote
This is a nice idea, but demonstrably untrue. There are many jobs beneficial to society that are not (sufficiently) profitable to commercial interests.
Nanaki_TV t1_j9pqhhs wrote
Name three.
Timely_Secret9569 t1_j9xq9nm wrote
Roads, trains and national parks and all the jobs needed to build and maintain them.
Nanaki_TV t1_j9ymmld wrote
Roads? /r/whowouldbuildtheroads Trains? Like Ohio? National Parks? Meh. Ok I’ll maybe give you that one. Maybe.
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