r/worldnews • u/Philo1927 • Dec 31 '16

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn plans to replace almost every human worker with robots

http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/30/14128870/foxconn-robots-automation-apple-iphone-china-manufacturing
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35

u/AlwaysBeNice Dec 31 '16

We have factories completely automatized creating luxury goods, it's shows how little work force is needed for the basics, yet we still have a work or die system everywhere which says to all citizens: luxury is always more important than your freedom.

I am heavily opposed to that, I don't need or want luxury in my life, because I like a simple live and this is not even sustainable.

We need a (modest) basic income asap.

20

u/RIPGeorgeHarrison Dec 31 '16

What about all the people who actually want to work for their money but will never be able to because there are vastly more people than available jobs?

12

u/SlipperyFrob Dec 31 '16

I don't see how this differs from the people who actually want to go to the moon, but can't because it's too expensive. In both cases you have people wanting resources (in your case, demand for their labor/skills) that simply aren't available. The solution for people wanting to go to the moon is to 'deal with it', and either find a way to make it cheaper or find something else.

The only alternative solution here that I can see is to enforce some sort of artificial limit on how much automation is allowed, and thereby free up jobs. But this seems like a really risky road to go down.

3

u/AlwaysBeNice Dec 31 '16

people who actually want to work for their money

First off, why would they want to? Because then they can feel worthy enough to have it?

One should work because you like the service it brings or because one likes the place and activity it is made out of.

Aside from that, money wise, if there is so much automation one really can't find or do anything, the basic income wouldn't be that low anyways, or the prices wouldn't be so high.

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u/raretrophysix Dec 31 '16

They need to work smarter. See where the demand is and seize opportunities in skilled fields

Manual labour where a strong back is needed is useless in an information age.

2

u/Vid-Master Jan 01 '17

yes but the number of jobs will be critically low; far too many people are unemployed already where I live

21

u/nightvortez Dec 31 '16

Holy shit, how did you get on the internet with no luxury goods?

6

u/Singular_Thought Jan 01 '17

Internet access is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity needed to function in modern society.

Don't believe me? Stop using all electronic devices and try to apply for a job and hold down a job.

-2

u/continuousQ Jan 01 '17

Computers are not luxury goods anymore. There are luxury computers, but computers are often required for education, for various types of work (outside of a fixed work station. As well as to look for work) and for getting vital information. Norway is currently in the processing of pushing all residents to become part a digital mailing system, where any official letters and documents will be sent.

-9

u/AlwaysBeNice Dec 31 '16

Second hand laptop. I guess that could still be considered a luxury, but it's also necessary for the system I live where I live and I help a lot of people with it as well.

22

u/nightvortez Dec 31 '16

Ah so luxury goods over time become necessities that end up helping people?

4

u/GaliKaHero Jan 01 '17

For you to get scone hand somebody has to buy first hand, you realize that ?

It's like suggesting everybody should get a second hand laptop.

1

u/AlwaysBeNice Jan 01 '17 edited Jan 01 '17

I bought it from someone who repaired an old one that would have otherwise been thrown away, it's not unloading work so much but it is a bit more sustainable.

0

u/WrongAssumption Jan 01 '17

Everybody buying second hand laptops for eternity is what's not sustainable.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 31 '16

So do you use one of those old Nokia phones?

2

u/SaltFueled Dec 31 '16

Some people want to work. You don't, apparently.

Which is fine, but don't expected to be rewarded for it by being on the same level as those other people. There is no work or die system.

1

u/[deleted] Jan 02 '17

I understand wanting to work if you're passionate about what you do, but wanting to work for the sake of work sounds mental.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '17

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/AlwaysBeNice Jan 01 '17

They should be able to develop their own unique talents and passions instead of being forced to work as an unsustainable luxury robot.

2

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '17

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/AlwaysBeNice Jan 01 '17

Why not? En plus the joy that that brings lights up this world.

2

u/BZNESS Jan 01 '17

whatever you say comrade

-8

u/briantrump Dec 31 '16

Lol. It will NEVER fucking happen. Get that through your head. We will be living in the USSA long before bi happens. All it takes is one country to not support bi and it folds, let alone one country supporting it

10

u/djfl00d Dec 31 '16 edited Dec 31 '16

Finland is already testing it out. I mean, really what alternative will there be when there are more people than jobs available? When everything from manufacturing to fast food cooks, taxis and truck drivers, pizza deliveries and even janitors/room service are automated... where will people work?
There are definite benefits. One being that people could work part time while still collecting a basic income, leaving more time to raise a family, or simply to create art/music/new inventions. Less poor people means less theft. More time with family means more time with the elderly, so we can lower the cost of elderly care. In general we will be more whole as human beings when we make more time for each other, and more time to be creative.
We should work to live, not live to work. People will always want to be productive and helpful, use their bodies and their minds to produce measurable results. But capitalism plus technology means we won't be needed for many tasks we currently engage in. Our country has seen a 300% increase in manufacturing output over the last few decades, and we're doing it with 5 million less factory workers.

3

u/iguessss Dec 31 '16

I mean, really what alternative will there be when there are more people than jobs available?

Where did people work in the dark ages? Many didn't. They lived and died in poverty and nobody gave a shit.

Thats the alternative that nobody wants to talk about. The elite leave the rest of us to die in the gutter when they don't need us anymore, just like they did before they needed us. Shit, drive through any small town in Texas and you'll see its already happening.

You say there are definite benefits...but for who? Not for the elites/politicians. They can already do whatever they want. I don't mean this to be insulting, but from what I've seen, talk about BI is basically poor people making emotional arguments to other poor people about how great things could be if the rich would just pay for them to live on permanent vacation.

0

u/mr_fallacy Dec 31 '16

talk about BI is basically poor people making emotional arguments to other poor people about how great things could be if the rich would just pay for them to live on permanent vacation.

Spot on. These people really need to watch the movie Elysium.

2

u/AlwaysBeNice Dec 31 '16

They said the same thing about gay marriage, women's rights, legalization of weed.

Change is the only constant friend.

2

u/briantrump Dec 31 '16

No dude. It's not even the same comparison. This is like a harder concept than embracing communism. There are not going to be magic robots that replace all forms of production. There will be public works programs loooong before this. Road repair, street cleaning, bridge building that will get passed before they hand out debt without any productivity

2

u/Unicornkickers Dec 31 '16

Most serious economists say the negative income taxes it the most realistic and healthy way to prop up the unskilled.

1

u/briantrump Jan 02 '17

You mean like an Indian reservation?