this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2024
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Philip K. Dick wrote a short story ("Autofac") in which autonomous, self-replicating factories continue to operate and produce goods long after a global war has wiped out most of humanity, and they eat up all remaining resources on earth in doing so. I worry that there's a system in which a few extremely rich people can continue thriving without involvement of most of humanity, and that they're (knowingly or unknowingly) moving society in that direction. Who needs the commoners when AI and algorithms can simulate them.
IIUC the calculation of GDP doesn't factor in whether the produced goods serve a human need - the system can in theory continue to optimize for ever-increasing GDP while every human on earth starves to death.
Correct; GDP is a dumb measure, and even its inventor said it cannot be used alone.
Yeah we need to be kept employed at around 94% (or at least not 100%) while we starve to death.
Well, technically 100% employment wouldn't be desirable, that would mean nobody can ever switch jobs or take some time off from working to deal with some personal issues or projects.
No it’s that wages climb too much when unemployment is too low. The Feds even fucking said it during the inflation. They wanted a higher unemployment rate. Super fucked unless there was ever a basic income.
I think employment is based on those seeking work. So if you take time off, you wouldn’t be counted. It’s a balance in the market that stops wage rises and inflation when there is unemployment. It’s obviously not desirable for the individual.