The Worst-Case Future for White-Collar Workers

(theatlantic.com)

18 points | by xnx a day ago ago

12 comments

  • iberator a day ago ago

    Lost my job as a developer some time ago. Unemployment, homelessness and depression... I got laid a few days ago from McDonalds as I'm too old (40) and too slow to compete with youngsters :(

    FLIPPING BURGERS IS SUPER HARD. (unless you have amazing precision, speed and memory and can work under literal heat and noise).

    Can't compete with AI, and can't compete with youngsters :(

    Learn some alternative trade before you're gonna end up like me :(

  • PebblesHD a day ago ago

    I’m very interested to watch (not as much to experience…) what this will do to economies like Australia where the middle class and up are driving a shockingly large percentage of actual spending in the economy. If the historically wealthy white-collar classes ceased to be able to afford their mortgages and rent, stopped buying discretionary items, and stopped eating out, I think the economy as a whole would just stop.

    If I was one of these pseudo-oligarchy members, I would be a lot more worried about a large percent of the population becoming disaffected and angry.

  • vivzkestrel 12 hours ago ago

    - I have a loud laugh every time I see Universal Basic income being mentioned anywhere

    - YoU dOnT hAvE tO wOrK aNyMoRe! ThE gOvErNmEnT wIlL gIvE yOuR fAmIlY mOnThLy PaYcHeCkS

    - I am sorry but where exactly is this money going to come from? The corporations will do everything they can to cut taxes down to 0. If you tax too much, they ll just go and incorporate their company in a different country with 0 to lower taxes. Some countries would take geopolitical advantage of this situation by allowing foreign companies to register for super duper low taxes as a way to erode talent and wealth from their adversaries

  • AndrewKemendo a day ago ago

    Looks like the ramifications of elite overproduction are starting to actually manifest everywhere!

    > And while the polarizing nature of social media can perpetuate a sense of crisis and despair, these platforms are too disjointed for a unifying figure to emerge and seize power.[50] Turchin predicted that the resolution to this crisis will occur in the 2030s and will substantially change the character of the United States.[34]

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_overproduction

    • eli_gottlieb a day ago ago

      What's the difference in predictions made between a theory of elite overproduction vs one of proletarianization?

      • AndrewKemendo a day ago ago

        Different systems and elite overproduction doesn’t discuss capital and production allocation eg means of production split.

    • cucumber3732842 a day ago ago

      Alternatively, you have the uncle Ted explanation:

      We have subjugated ourselves and destroyed our autonomy and capability for individual action and fulfillment with institutions and technology. People cope for awhile until eventually it all destabilizes and goes to shit. It's also been about ~50yr since he penned the prediction that it would come to a head in 40-100yr.

      And these are far from the only two theories with some very compelling arguments and lines of reasoning backing them up.

  • burnt-resistor 21 hours ago ago

    What it really signals is that even previously-desirable professionals as employees are really just part of the precariat and they should endeavor to find business models, markets, and customers themselves.

  • black_13 20 hours ago ago

    [dead]