I believe automation is inevitable with a lot of jobs that have been around for generations. The recent strike is proof on how it can disrupt all of our lives. I believe that automation isnt such a bad thing. But I believe people in those fields should not be left high and dry. I beleive there should be a program, for workers who will get displaced by automation, to help them learn and transfer trades that will allow them to get similar jobs, pay, and benefits. This can be a low cost program that will help us get to the efficiency of other countries that already utilize automation without betraying the people who depend on these jobs.
I think I have a better idea.
I think as companies blatantly automate positions, they should have to pay a permanent pension to the people they replaced. A very high one, so that the populous at large would celebrate their jobs being automated, and encourage policies that encourage automation. It would be something to congratulate. We can even subsidize this on the back end to encourage automation in our industries.
AI and automation has the potential to turn our industries into 24/7 industries, and the technology is potentially coming fast. Leaving your life’s work and being forced to retrain would not encourage enough popular support for automation. I think my suggestion can. Even the port workers might back off their “don’t replace me bro” requirement if we promised them a full salary through their original retirement date if they were replaced (the first examples have to go the most all-in with compensation to get them to switch their pre-existing opposition to automation [and allow us to have a better future]).
These are my suggestions on the topic. I am new to this system, so if anyone agrees with this, feel free to steal this suggestion and put it somewhere that would get it more traction, please.
I submitted a policy proposal for my alternative idea: Foster Support for Automation with Pensions and Incentivize Companies through Subsidies