Thought for the Day:
Is technology finally coming back to bite US in the ass?
I was sitting here reading an article about the pros and cons of the plans Bush and Kerry have for our country and one statement in particular caught my attention: "Rising health insurance premiums make it cheaper to buy better equipment than hire a new employee. ‘Businesses are more interested in using technology,’ says Sung Won Sohn, chief economist of Wells Fargo. ‘They want to hire people only as a last resort.’ " -Time 9/13/04
This statement was in response to the jobs lost during Bush’s presidency, but I think it says a whole lot more. We've been concerned about the effect of technology on the employment rate for years, maybe now it’s starting to take its toll. If you think about it, rising insurance premiums are only a small part of the larger picture. Why hire a person when you can get a piece of machinery to do the same job? A piece of machinery doesn’t complain about having to work late; once you’ve paid for that piece of machinery, you don’t have to give it a yearly salary, benefits, or a retirement package; you don’t have to worry about the machines union officials; a piece of machinery may have to take a sick day every now and then, but it will work all holidays, all birthdays, all of its kids birthdays, personal days and it never ever takes a vacation. When you look at it from a business owners point of view, a piece of machinery is the perfect employee!
Granted, you will need someone to run and repair all that machinery, and that is where hiring temps and contractors comes in. Temps and contractors keep the pay wages and benefit packages at a minimum. You may only need a few permanent employees to supervise and train the people to run a medium to large factory.
So what’s the solution? Well, if you’re a factory worker, my guess is that you should start looking for a new occupation, because I don’t see any reason for this situation to ever turn around. With all the new technology becoming available, why would these large companies start hiring people again? It wouldn’t be out of the goodness of their hearts, they’re in it for the money and they will do what they have to do to make that money. We may have a chance with trying to promote smaller businesses, but they generally do not pay as well. One other suggestion is trying to find work in the entertainment field. There are a lot of jobs there that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to get and, if you "make it", it pays very well. Just ask Michael Moore.
Quote of the Day:
All I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power. - Ashleigh Brilliant
Music:
Song of the day: "Blue Sky Mine" by Midnight Oil
Movie Pic:
Tue is the first day of Vincent Price week! Tonights suggested features are The Pit and the Pendulum and Fall of the House of Usher.
If I Could Be an Animal For A Day:
I would be a cute little deer... And I would bite Evil Sandmich back!
Smith Park.
Is technology finally coming back to bite US in the ass?
I was sitting here reading an article about the pros and cons of the plans Bush and Kerry have for our country and one statement in particular caught my attention: "Rising health insurance premiums make it cheaper to buy better equipment than hire a new employee. ‘Businesses are more interested in using technology,’ says Sung Won Sohn, chief economist of Wells Fargo. ‘They want to hire people only as a last resort.’ " -Time 9/13/04
This statement was in response to the jobs lost during Bush’s presidency, but I think it says a whole lot more. We've been concerned about the effect of technology on the employment rate for years, maybe now it’s starting to take its toll. If you think about it, rising insurance premiums are only a small part of the larger picture. Why hire a person when you can get a piece of machinery to do the same job? A piece of machinery doesn’t complain about having to work late; once you’ve paid for that piece of machinery, you don’t have to give it a yearly salary, benefits, or a retirement package; you don’t have to worry about the machines union officials; a piece of machinery may have to take a sick day every now and then, but it will work all holidays, all birthdays, all of its kids birthdays, personal days and it never ever takes a vacation. When you look at it from a business owners point of view, a piece of machinery is the perfect employee!
Granted, you will need someone to run and repair all that machinery, and that is where hiring temps and contractors comes in. Temps and contractors keep the pay wages and benefit packages at a minimum. You may only need a few permanent employees to supervise and train the people to run a medium to large factory.
So what’s the solution? Well, if you’re a factory worker, my guess is that you should start looking for a new occupation, because I don’t see any reason for this situation to ever turn around. With all the new technology becoming available, why would these large companies start hiring people again? It wouldn’t be out of the goodness of their hearts, they’re in it for the money and they will do what they have to do to make that money. We may have a chance with trying to promote smaller businesses, but they generally do not pay as well. One other suggestion is trying to find work in the entertainment field. There are a lot of jobs there that you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to get and, if you "make it", it pays very well. Just ask Michael Moore.
Quote of the Day:
All I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power. - Ashleigh Brilliant
Music:
Song of the day: "Blue Sky Mine" by Midnight Oil
Movie Pic:
Tue is the first day of Vincent Price week! Tonights suggested features are The Pit and the Pendulum and Fall of the House of Usher.
If I Could Be an Animal For A Day:
I would be a cute little deer... And I would bite Evil Sandmich back!
Smith Park.
posted by RT at 2:53 AM
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