Obsolete or Evolution?

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/113047/disappearing-middle-class-jobs-forbes is just one of dozens of articles I have read lately on jobs that have been lost and are probably never going to come back. Forbes lists jobs like Clerical and certain Production line jobs. Some of these jobs have been lost because of the economy and others simply because they aren't needed anymore. The recent economic downturn has forced companies to change the way the way they do business or produce items and they are realizing that the new way is much more efficient than the old way.

I also read about people bemoaning the loss of jobs because companies refuse to do things the way they were done before. They insist that the companies have a duty to the people and are wrong to take those jobs away even it is more efficient and cost effective. I say, "Poppycock!" (I actually do say that which should frighten people)

When I was reading the Forbes article with my morning coffee I was reminded of the incredible movie, "Other People's Money" with the incredible Danny Devito. He has an incredible speech at the very end where a company that is facing extinction is voting to keep going. The speech is kind of long, but basically he is trying to explain that it is against common sense and good judgment to keep forcing a company doomed to failure to keep going.

His example is "You know, at one time there must have been dozens of companies making buggy whips. And I'll bet the last company around was the one that made the best goddamn buggy whip you ever saw.

Now, how would you have liked to have been a stockholder in that company?"

and that is kind of the way I see this situation. A hundred years ago, I am sure teamsters were yelling because the motorized trucks were stealing their work. When Hydraulic and Electric Drilling entered coal mines, I am sure the thousands of workers they replaced yelled at the top of their lungs. I could give dozens of more examples but you get my drift.

Technology and innovation have displaced workers since time began. People have had to evolve and adapt to the new situation or suffer. The way the world does business and produces is changing and we either have to change with it or be stuck.

As a side note, this blog has nothing to do with jobs being lost because companies are sending their work overseas to people willing to work for much less than we do. It is simply a statement on technology and innovation. The other is a subject for a future blog not todays.