Iamme
20th October 2003, 04:17 PM
Huh?...you ask?
Remember when we had gas station attendants? I wonder how many of them there were at their peak? Where did they all go? What happened to our economy? Did it cause some kind of shift in say, from our economy being heavy service oriented, to something else?
Also, around this time period of say 20-30 years ago, we started to become more automated. Companies started using more robotics, to eliminate workers. Where did all the displaced people go?
Then, perhaps starting about 20 years ago, give or take some...we started in with all this "Silicone valley" stuff.
Is it possible that all these unemployed service workers started getting jobs in techy companies?
Going back again: What kind of an economy did we HAVE back then, anyway...with all these service oriented people. I believe we had even more salesmen back then. You know, people like Fuller Brush men going door to door.
What would happen to an economy if let's say we really got carried away with employing people for service. We start hiring gas station attendants again. We hire people to do all kinds of mundane tasks that we really don't NEED...but companies do it so that customers choose THEIR company rather than a competitors company. What if those do-it-yourself building centers had home delivery? (I actually thought of several this morning, where the jobs would seem legitimate, but I forgot what they were).
You could simply and curtly say, "Well, obviously their services AREN'T needed, otherwise these services would be provided." I KNOW that. But, years ago, that is exactly what we had...and I am curious as to what that did to our economy back then, and how our economy is different today. Is our GNP higher now (when you figure in inflation and higher population) than back then?
What I DO remeber about things 40 years ago was ...being lower middle class (to the lower side), having TWO new cars. A beautiful home (brick, split level, 2 fireplaces, 3000 square feet, tv tower, intercom throughout, 2 1/2 car garage with openers, etc.), only my dad had to work, went on regular vacations, had the nicest clothes and the nicest meals.
Now look at things the way they are today. What gives?
Remember when we had gas station attendants? I wonder how many of them there were at their peak? Where did they all go? What happened to our economy? Did it cause some kind of shift in say, from our economy being heavy service oriented, to something else?
Also, around this time period of say 20-30 years ago, we started to become more automated. Companies started using more robotics, to eliminate workers. Where did all the displaced people go?
Then, perhaps starting about 20 years ago, give or take some...we started in with all this "Silicone valley" stuff.
Is it possible that all these unemployed service workers started getting jobs in techy companies?
Going back again: What kind of an economy did we HAVE back then, anyway...with all these service oriented people. I believe we had even more salesmen back then. You know, people like Fuller Brush men going door to door.
What would happen to an economy if let's say we really got carried away with employing people for service. We start hiring gas station attendants again. We hire people to do all kinds of mundane tasks that we really don't NEED...but companies do it so that customers choose THEIR company rather than a competitors company. What if those do-it-yourself building centers had home delivery? (I actually thought of several this morning, where the jobs would seem legitimate, but I forgot what they were).
You could simply and curtly say, "Well, obviously their services AREN'T needed, otherwise these services would be provided." I KNOW that. But, years ago, that is exactly what we had...and I am curious as to what that did to our economy back then, and how our economy is different today. Is our GNP higher now (when you figure in inflation and higher population) than back then?
What I DO remeber about things 40 years ago was ...being lower middle class (to the lower side), having TWO new cars. A beautiful home (brick, split level, 2 fireplaces, 3000 square feet, tv tower, intercom throughout, 2 1/2 car garage with openers, etc.), only my dad had to work, went on regular vacations, had the nicest clothes and the nicest meals.
Now look at things the way they are today. What gives?