The following article appeared in the June 1983 copy of Business Ecology: A Contemporary Management Tabloid (7.3 MB). This issue was composed on an Osborne 64 computer and printed on a typewriter printer, somewhat like a linked upgraded IBM Selectric. In context, the more your life changes, the more much of it remains the same. A short commentary will follow: What is the most critical problem facing our business and governmental leaders of the next generation? Foreign competition? Not really! The energy crisis? We still waste too much energy! Declining productivity? Not really! The communist menace? Get serious. They (now Putin) have more problems than they can handle now! In our opinion the most serious crisis facing our society is providing jobs for countless millions of people who, for one reason or another will be unable to function and understand this fantastic machine on which you are now reading these pearls. The truth of the matter is; the power of the computer is only available to certain people. Those who do not, or cannot understand and use this tremendous potential will be destined to become second-class citizens. The social impact of this will not be felt for many years yet, but may lead to serious consequences and social upheaval down the road. Computers will never replace people. Even though some of you reading this find it much easier to deal with these logical devices, than relate to your wife, lover, friends or business associates. People are what life is all about. If your computer does not at times allow you to associate more freely with people around you, shut it off and go out and relate to the human race. Back to our discussion of jobs. There is a certain percentage of the population who through lack of native ability, fear, or other handicaps will not be able to become computer literate. Most of the population will however be able to function quite easily with programmed microprocessors (your iPad, tablet and smart phone), something a short trip to McDonalds should verify. The problem is, those persons working for minimum wage at McDonalds can be entirely replaced today. Their main function seems to act like a conveyor belt to take the plastic wrapped food from under the heat lamps, put it on a tray and count back change. There is not much future in this rewarding career. To take it a step further, banks are now talking about replacing tellers, with machines. You will need a certain bank balance to even see a person. If this “progress” is carried to the extreme, as now many suggest that it will, the unemployment rate could approach 50% or higher. That will never happen. There will be civil war first. wondersprings.org/files/jobs4seasons123114.php
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 15:44:11 +0000
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