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jb2000 · 07-26-2004, 10:24 AM

I do think that there is a trend that will continue to see higher productivity and a shrinking workforce in industrial fields. It is not unlike agriculture. We get a lot more food from a lot fewer farmers today than years ago. Skipping a discusion of GM food and the chemical-sustinance of such farms, it none-the-less has freed a significant number of our workers for other pursuits besides food production. I see the same happening with industry.

As for the nation itself, there is some concern if foreign powers become capable of cutting us off from industry, but I think this is not likely. Our largest suppliers of industrial goods have been our most friendly partners diplomatically, or at least have never contemplated cutting us off for real. The only raw material which we have really had problems with is of course oil, but even there we have made do.

One might ask why industrial suppliers would cut us off, since it would have an equal effect on their economy as well. Also, we have a significant share of the world's mineral wealth. In a weird twist of classic colonial process, many of the products we import are made with raw materials we exported to the industries.

If they are a nation that we end up at war with, sure, but it would take quite a lot of nations to truly cause us to be deprived of access to products. Our military-industrial base remains protected, so it won't prevent us from prosecuting war.

In all I don't see much threat from nations trying to cut us off from industry.

I think the global trend will be for fewer people to be needed in agriculture and industry, and for more people to be free to pursue 'creative' careers. The problem is that 'creative' paths are not always open to all who seek them and thus they are forced to serve those who are successful just to survive.

07-26-2004, 10:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
jb2000 Crazy Location: Allen, TX	I do think that there is a trend that will continue to see higher productivity and a shrinking workforce in industrial fields. It is not unlike agriculture. We get a lot more food from a lot fewer farmers today than years ago. Skipping a discusion of GM food and the chemical-sustinance of such farms, it none-the-less has freed a significant number of our workers for other pursuits besides food production. I see the same happening with industry. As for the nation itself, there is some concern if foreign powers become capable of cutting us off from industry, but I think this is not likely. Our largest suppliers of industrial goods have been our most friendly partners diplomatically, or at least have never contemplated cutting us off for real. The only raw material which we have really had problems with is of course oil, but even there we have made do. One might ask why industrial suppliers would cut us off, since it would have an equal effect on their economy as well. Also, we have a significant share of the world's mineral wealth. In a weird twist of classic colonial process, many of the products we import are made with raw materials we exported to the industries. If they are a nation that we end up at war with, sure, but it would take quite a lot of nations to truly cause us to be deprived of access to products. Our military-industrial base remains protected, so it won't prevent us from prosecuting war. In all I don't see much threat from nations trying to cut us off from industry. I think the global trend will be for fewer people to be needed in agriculture and industry, and for more people to be free to pursue 'creative' careers. The problem is that 'creative' paths are not always open to all who seek them and thus they are forced to serve those who are successful just to survive. __________________ "Don't tell me we're so blind we cannot see that this is my land! I can't pretend that it's nothing to do with me. And this is your land, you can't close your eyes to this hypocracy. Yes this is my land, I won't pretend that it's nothing to do with me. 'Cause this is our land, we can't close our eyes to the things we don't wanna see." - DTH