President Obama: Advanced Manufacturing Can Boost Jobs

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

President Barack Obama says technological innovations such as robots can help pump jobs into the economy and spur growth in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

In his radio and Internet address Saturday, the president echoed a plan he unveiled Friday in Pittsburgh to join the federal government, universities and corporations and re-ignite American manufacturing with an emphasis on cutting-edge research and new technologies.

"Their mission is to come up with a way to get ideas from the drawing board to the manufacturing floor to the marketplace as swiftly as possible, which will help create quality jobs, and make our businesses more competitive," Obama said in his address, which was taped Friday during his visit to Carnegie Mellon University, where he saw a display of mini-robots that explore water and sewer pipes.

(snip)
The goal of his manufacturing plan, he said, is "to help make sure America remains in this century what we were in the last - a country that makes things."



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=13928658

---

Obama: 'We can't simply cut our way to prosperity'
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/168457-obama-we-cant-simply-cut-our-way-to-prosperity

[No Elephants]

1. In the sense that "anything's possible."

[vi5]

2. So do I have this right?

He's saying more robots and more technological advancement will result in more jobs?

Isn't that kind of a big reason that we're in this situation in the first place? Such advanced technological productivity?

Maybe I don't understand this so hopefully someone can explain it to me. I don't understand or relate to much of what Obama says any more so I don't see why this would be different.

[KG]

3. maybe he thinks american workers will build the robots,

the robots that will eliminate job. capitalism at its finest! :eyes:

[JDPriestly]

40. This is the same cycle we go through over and over.

New technology is developed.

The development of the new technology gets the economy moving and creates jobs for a while, then, suddenly the technology replaces working people.

The jobs are lost and we have a recession.

Until the next new technology comes along, the creation and implementation of which requires labor and then severely reduces the need for labor.

Think about a few examples: the cotton gin, the production line, computers. The list goes on and on.

So, the problem is how do we anticipate the fact that this is a part of the boom/recession cycle that repeats itself every so many years.

The development of technology and the unemployment that results from it after the technology is widespread are just a reality we have to deal with. We should anticipate that this cycle will occur. It is natural. And adopt an economic theory that alleviates the suffering that occurs at the end of the cycle -- at the recessionary phase.

The Ayn Rand theory does not, of course, view things from a long-range distance. She had kind of a near-sighted view of the individual capitalist's role in society. So, people who admire her thinking ignore the facts.

This cycle is predictable and should be dealt with rationally in my view.

[boppers]

80. "This cycle is predictable and should be dealt with rationally in my view."

Humans are not rational.

They do not like adjusting to a changing world by changing themselves.

As a result, people are still looking for the kind of jobs, economy, and world of 50 years ago.

[Autumn Colors]

7. Well, I know *** I'm *** thankful

Yes, this medical transcriptionist certainly is thankful for all those electronic medical record systems and all that voice recognition software causing my clients to suddenly give me 70% less work within the span of a couple of months and then to see none of it come back, thus also helping me to experience a foreclosure....

Yes, I'm very thankful for all that technology and I'm sure many other underemployed or newly unemployed medical transcriptionists are as well.

:sarcasm:

[vi5]

10. He really just does not get it does he?

His advocacy of this as some sort of "solution" or road to a solution shows just how much he views everything through corporate tinged, "productivity", bottom line glasses.

It's depressing.

[InkAddict]

21. You know, you and I had plenty of time to re-train

I'm sure we could have signed up for some undischargeable student loan dollars to become a real estate or stock broker, a teacher or a SWAT team member long ago. Alas and shame, I picked Health Information Technology, LOL. Surely TPTB would then keep us employed so we could pay those loans back, LOL and NOT! Meanwhile, we become older, poorer, hungry, and homeless and subject to the abuse of being called overpaid, lazy, unmotivated, and stupid just so India doesn't nuke our friends in Pakistan who harbor terrorists and so our corporate masters can earn bigger bonuses to feed their off-shore Ponzi'd bank accounts, invest in building private prisons and sponsor all sorts of media entertainment/sports to distract the multitudes.

Remember when camping was recreation not a zombie apocalypse survival technique? I'm going to study-up on first aid so I can roll bandages for the revolution that's sure to come if this BS keeps up; others might already have started pretending to recycle their soda bottles and won't be persuaded to turn them in for any amount of deposit refund.

See this item from way back in 2004:
Notice that the corporate headquarters is in Connecticut.

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/IMedX_to_expand_Indian_operations-nid-26132.html

:sarcasm: as well (but maybe not)

I'd pick you up for the October 6 event in DC, but I'll need to be begging a ride myself; see the Activist forum.

[Autumn Colors]

61. IMedX has been my personal nightmare

I lost two accounts about 5 years ago to them. Not only are they in Connecticut, but they're in the general area where I was living at that point.

Thankfully, I've got one tiny account (one doctor) who is (a) a technophobe and (b) absolutely refuses to send his dictation out of the country just on principle. He's one doctor in a very large practice that sends the rest of their dictation to India. They're switching to an EMR, but this guy already told me that if they still have the option to dictate, he will. Wish I could find others like him, but the cost of trying to find new accounts is too high now because there's almost nothing out there.

Remember less than 10 years ago when we could make a great living at home doing this? At one point, I was even able to provide a full-time living for 3 other people, too!

I'm beyond angry.

[boppers]

4. Here's the problem with that:

The vast majority of job loss in the last 50 years did not come from highly skilled labor.

It comes from un-skilled labor.

The person who can connect a red wire to another red wire with a pair of crimpers is where the loss is, not the persons who can replace the crimper with circuit board technology that renders all their crimping obsolete.

The person who can create hand written, hand graded, math lessons is where the loss is, not the persons who can replace the lessons and grading with computers that renders all their grading obsolete.

We got too efficient, too fast, and those who weren't on the side of efficiency, but were on the side of "jobs", lost.

[erodriguez]

15. teacher made materials that are focused on the specific needs of their students are obsoletee

We should leave all of that stuff to educational teachnology companies that know much more about students than the people who are with them 6 hours a day.


The people who make those handwriten tests are teachers.
According to your post teachers are unskilled laborers.

[boppers]

59. strawman.

A teacher who makes hand-written tests, and then dupes them off for all their students?

Yes, that's unskilled labor. And insulting to students.

A teacher who tunes each electronic test they give, to each student they give it to? That's skilled labor.

[No Elephants]

72. ....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

[erodriguez]

74. no point.

[No Elephants]

76. Maybe, but you never know who reads these threads.

Belated welcome to DU.

[boppers]

77. Right here:

"According to your post teachers are unskilled laborers."

That's the straw man... creating a fictitious argument to argue against.

[JDPriestly]

41. Computer programmers are being replaced by folks in India

who can afford to work for much lower wages and still live quite well, thank you.

[boppers]

60. India can't replace Agile RAD.

Want a new button? In less than 20 seconds?

India can't do that. That's where in-house works.

[Scuba]

5. Good idea, half-assed execution. Too much military, not enough other. n/t

[madrchsod]

6. that was one of the most clueless statements he`s ever made

we are so fucked...

[ixion]

9. Indeed. "Build more robots" sounds like

something Chimpenfurher would have said.

We are wholly, completely and thoroughly screwed.

[madrchsod]

8. here`s a list of plays and novels about robots

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-229164.html

i guess obama isn`t a big fan of science fiction or in this case science reality.

my favorite is "door into summer"

[StarsInHerHair]

55. I prefer "Door To December" but that book was closer to "Ghost in the Machine"

[JJW]

11. Disgraceful

Have you no shame? $ 500 million for jobs when the banksters got trillions and he additionally spends trillions on wars. Shame on you Barack Obama.

And most likely some global corporation that doesn't even pay taxes and is cutting American workers (like GE) will get the money. And that money will end up in some greedy CEO's pension or golden parachute.

[OHdem10]

12. Yesterday Dillon R. covered this on his program including the

President. Dillon had two guests. One represented
the Mfgrs Organization and one a Professor from Carnegie Mellon.

Both guests emphasized the need for change in TRADE POLICY
to make this work. Both said STOP China from cheating and
this policy will do great things.

As things are, we can develop this and how long will it be
before these jobs go overseas????


The truth is we have a structural problem brought on by
Improper or No Management of Globalization. Util someone(s()
stands up and rectifies this we will not improve our economy.
Sop China from cheating.

[caseymoz]

35. So, we stop them from cheating and they dump all our dollars and bonds on the market.

Both inflating our currency and depressing our economy. After enough of our unemployed have starved out, there will be plenty of jobs. Good plan.

There's a good reason why China has a wide latitude for cheating.

[StarsInHerHair]

56. China is perhaps going in the same direction as the USA

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2011/06/is-chinese-economy-sputtering-for-same.html

..."It was tempting to believe that China was different.
With its command and control economy with some of the trappings of free market capitalism, trillions in reserves, and abundant natural resources, many thought that China would "decouple" from the Western world's problems and sail into a prosperous future."...

..."Analysts at Capital Economics, a London-based research group, estimate that private consumption may have fallen to 34 percent of gross domestic product last year, the lowest level since China began opening its economy to market mechanisms more than three decades ago. Just 10 years ago, the share was 46 percent, Capital Economics calculates"...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-16/consumers-fade-in-china-economy-racked-by-inflation-with-peak-days-gone.html

“Just at a time when the government in China and a lot of people elsewhere are hoping to see Chinese consumers step up to the plate, actually they’ve been staying away from shops,” said Mark Williams, an economist in London with Capital Economics and a former adviser on China to the U.K. Treasury. “The trend over the past couple of years has been relentlessly downward.”

Food costs jumped 12 percent in May from a year before, eroding the purchasing power of Chinese households even as policy makers embrace wage gains to bolster domestic demand. Savings are also being hurt, with the one-year deposit rate of 3.25 percent more than 2 percentage points less than the 5.5 percent annual pace of inflation. Limited exchange-rate appreciation also means imported products are more costly. "....

[JDPriestly]

42. Face it. China is bigger than we are. We learned that in the Korean Conflict.

And those who didn't learn it then, learned it in Viet Nam.

China is bigger than us with vast human resources.

Our government is afraid of China and beholden to Saudi Arabia.

I am beginning to think that our foreign and increasingly our domestic policy is actually made in China and Saudi Arabia or at least in the heads of "leaders" trying to figure out how to keep the dictatorships in China and Saudi Arabia happy.

Talk about the Constitution and other idealistic subjects is just for us peons.

[No Elephants]

68. I believe all our policies are made by whatever came after the Bohemian Grove.

Maybe it's still being made by the Bohemian Grove folk, but I think the name and place became too well known. You know, like when just anybody starts knowing about the latest "in" club or restaurant, the power players move on to another spot.

[sendero]

81. Begining with..

.... President Clinton who opened the trade floodgates with China and got NOTHING in return.

[Corruption Winz]

13. I've noticed that a lot of people are blasting him for this...

But, it's really a no-win situation. If these advancements aren't made, then we fall behind. We make the advancements, and we lose jobs that people could have done before robots. In truth, something has to be done.

I happen to think that his idea, at least in theory, is the way to go. We advance and as a whole, if we continue to create, we have more people to create these things and to make them. That DOES create jobs in theory and we would hopefully get back on our proverbial feet.

[Lucky Luciano]

16. Yes...and you seem to be the only person who gets this.

I am surprised by the anti-science sentiment...I thought that was a freeper characteristic, but I guess we have it too here (for different reasons that have nothing to do with gawd).

[ixion]

20. I'm not opposed to robotics, nor am I "anti-science"

but for a short-term job solution, it's an impractical suggestion, at best.

Rather, why not focus on retro-fitting every residential property with a hybrid wind solar array. That technology exists today, and can be deployed short term. Robotics, on the other hand, is still very much in the birthing-bleeding-edge stage, and is not ready for commercial/retail deployment in any practical sense.

This is the reason I'm blasting him. It has nothing whatsoever to do with being anti-science.

[eilen]

37. What will fuel the robots? nt.

[caseymoz]

45. Actually, they're probably more energy efficient than the human workers.

Which is why the humans will be allowed to starve first.

[caseymoz]

44. Not anti-science, to cut and paste what I wrote above:

The whole industrial purpose of automation is to "cut payroll and cut jobs. You've pointed out the irony of it, though: it's the only thing that will ensure growth in GDP now, but the growth won't create jobs. The vast amount of the growth will go to the wealthiest."

"What everyone, Obama included, fails to see: this will be a good for our impoverished masses because when they do rebel there will then be a lot more wealth available here to loot." What blundering foresight!

:sarcasm:

[No Elephants]

70. The sentiment here is far from "anti-science."

[OHdem10]

17. I think a lot of people think it is a good thing. but we need to

also do something about the structural problem caused
by poorly managed globalization. Do something about
this and the advanced mfg idea will set this country
on fire.

"Stop China from cheating." NAM

[Enrique]

25. how about we make sure the gains are shared?

increase productivity, but don't let all the gains go to the top and all the losses (i.e. loss of jobs) be borne by the workers.

[Demit]

26. Obama's idea, in theory, will create jobs, in theory. I love it.

Corporate tax cuts create jobs in theory, or so we're told.

The idea that electing a Democratic president was, in theory, good for regular people. Or so we were told.

This president seems to have forgotten that this country's problems are not theoretical. This is not one of his classrooms where he can expound on theoretical problems. Our problems are real, and they are happening now, and people are suffering.

It's only a no-win situation for regular people, of whom Obama is not one. Politicians and Wall Streeters will be just fine. For them it's win-win.

[No Elephants]

73. The plutonomy won.

When the "Great" Depression of 1929 hit,, government responded to the lies and greed of Wall Street by creating the SEC, tightening anitrust laws and changing bankruptcy laws so that dishonest corporate execs would not run companies as they took advantage of bankruptcy laws (Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act, now repealed), and so on.
c
However, while voters and taxpayers slept, the rich were busy taking over D.C. and all political parties.

When the not so Great Depression of 2008 hit, government responded with bailouts.

And Americans still did not take to the streets.




AIN'T WE GOT FUN?
(Richard A. Whiting / Gus Kahn / Ray Egan) Circa 1921

Bill collectors gather 'round and rather
Haunt the cottage next door
Men the grocer and butcher sent
Men who call for the rent
But within a happy chappy
And his bride of only a year
Seem to be so cheerful, here's an earful
Of the chatter you hear

Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening
Ain't we got fun?
Not much money, Oh, but honey
Ain't we got fun?
The rent's unpaid dear
We haven't a bus
But smiles were made dear
For people like us

In the winter in the Summer
Don't we have fun
Times are bum and getting bummer
Still we have fun
There's nothing surer
The rich get rich and the poor get children
In the meantime, in between time
Ain't we got fun?

Just to make their trouble nearly double
Something happened last night
To their chimney a gray bird came
Mister Stork is his name
And I'll bet two pins, a pair of twins
Just happened in with the bird
Still they're very gay and merry
Just at dawning I heard

Ev'ry morning, ev'ry evening
Don't we have fun
Twins and cares, dear, come in pairs, dear
Don't we have fun
We've only started
As mommer and pop
Are we downhearted
I'll say that we're not

Landlords mad and getting madder
Ain't we got fun?
Times are so bad and getting badder
Still we have fun
There's nothing surer
The rich get rich and the poor get laid off
In the meantime, in between time
Ain't we got fun?

When the man who sold 'em carpets told 'em
He would take them away
They said, "Wonderful, here's our chance
Take them up and we'll dance"
And when burglars came and robbed them
Taking all their silver, they say
Hubby yelled, "We're famous, for they'll name us
In the pepers today

Night or daytime, it's all playtime
Ain't we got fun?
Hot or cold days, any old days
Ain't we got fun
If Wifey wishes
To go to a play
Don't wash the dishes
Just throw them away

Streetcar seats are awful narrow
Ain't we got fun?
They won't smash up our Pierce Arrow
We ain't got none
They've cut my wages
But my income tax will be so much smaller
When I'm laid off, I'll be paid off
Ain't we got fun?

[caseymoz]

36. The whole idea of manufacturing automation is to cut labor costs . . .

By cutting payroll, cutting jobs. You've pointed out the irony of it, though: it's the only thing that will ensure growth in GDP now, but the growth won't create jobs. The vast amount of the growth will go to the wealthiest.

What everyone, Obama included, fails to see: this will be a good for our impoverished masses because when they do rebel, there will then be a lot more wealth available here to loot. How farseeing.

:sarcasm:

[neoralme]

50. So we begin our cultivation into THX 1138, led by a Nobel Peace

Prize recipient who has us in four wars, and soon a fifth, who doesn't care two birds' eyes about the American people. You wait until this man gives the hatchet to parts of Medicare to lift the debt ceiling. It's coming. This man is simply a puppet. I wish he would just stay on the golf course.

[StarsInHerHair]

57. but SOMEONE has to maintain those robots.......& what about the price of

electricity-might that become a problem in the future, if energy costs start really soaring?

[No Elephants]

69. Maybe, but he is not being as candid about it the second to fourth sentences of your post are.

The way he put it makes him seem tone deaf, as well as ill-informed or disingenuous, or both. No one likes to feel as though their President is trying to play them for fools.

"That DOES create jobs in theory..." Key words being "in theory." Sadly, my supermarket will not accept theories in exchange for groceries.

[rhett o rick]

14. Tariffs

[JJW]

18. Time for whispering sweet nothings is over

As candidate you promised to renegotiate all unfair trade deals. You've done nothing except offer three more unfair trade deals, that will send even more jobs overseas. Our manufacturing sector looks like post world war II Germany. Worse than ground zero. It is time from revolutionary change and a corporate puppet isn't going to make the grade this round.

[KG]

23. expect nothing bold from pres. milquetoast.

[valerief]

19. Robots will make rich people richer, and that's the most important thing in the world. nt

[OhioChick]

24. Yep n/t

[BiggJawn]

22. He really doesn't have a clue, does he?

I'm so disappointed. This is exactly what an Evan Bayh presidency would have looked like.

[Hawkowl]

32. Good one!

I'd forgotten about Evan Bayh, but you are exactly right. Obama is absolutely clueless about the economy and is completely subjagated to Wall Street and Big Oil and thinks Free Trade is the answer, not the problem.

I knew Obama would be to the right of center. I didn't know he'd make Nixon look like a commie-pinko, while making Herber Hoover look like a goddamned genius.

So for 2012 are choice is going to be Clueless (D) vs. Batshit Crazy (R).

[cottonseed]

27. There's an old SNL skit about people afraid of robots.

All this reminded me of that.

[Enrique]

28. i'm not really against this

but it's a long-term thing.

We are in an emergency and we need short-term measures fast. Yes of course he will get opposition. But is there a rule where a Democratic president is not allowed to fight for something?

[neoralme]

53. Sure. If he fights for the people. This is against the people. In an

educated society I'd say, well, maybe. We are NOT an educated society. So we will train people to be slaves.

[jwirr]

29. Sounds like a two edged sword to me. I am old enough to remember

when most things were done by human hands. With every invention they kept telling us that this would increase jobs. And it did - but it also replaced jobs with the same invention. I am not sure if this was good or bad. Depends on which edge of the swords affect more jobs.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

30. ...such as robots (made in China or Japan) can help pump jobs into the economy

Who's economy?

[gkhouston]

31. What about our crumbling infrastructure?

Are we supposed to get the robots to fix it? If so, what are we going to do during the long years it takes to bring them up to speed?

This sounds like another tax-incentives-for-industry proposal that may create some jobs somewhere someday. We need a lot of jobs in a lot of places, now, and the need to repair our infrastructure grows daily. Hmm.... :freak:

[alp227]

47. he did address that...

"We need to do what’s necessary to grow our economy; create good, middle-class jobs; and make it possible for all Americans to pursue their dreams...It means rebuilding our crumbling roads, railways, and runways."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/25/weekly-address-strengthening-america-investing-home

[gkhouston]

52. I look forward to seeing some action taken on this in the near

future. We need to shame the Republicans into making this happen.

[Vinca]

33. Aren't robots the reason people are losing jobs?

And can't robots operate just as well in China or India or any other country the big corporations decide to outsource to?

[eilen]

39. Robots do currently operate well overseas.

However exciting robotics is, I think it is not the solution to our jobs problem. My reasons are not anti-technology--they are environmental/energy related. Relying on robotics is not a sustainable strategy. The majority of people continue the process of deskilling. Soon it will be the robots building robots if not already. This money ends up going to tech corporations or University tech depts. for R&D that gets sold/given to larger corporations and/or military producing very little jobs.

[bvar22]

34. Advanced Manufacturing Can Boost Jobs....

..in other countries without Labor Protections and Environmental Regulations.

Ross was then, and is STILL right now!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkgx1C_S6ls&feature=player_embedded

And it is an INSULT to every American who Works for a Liiving that the current leadership is STILL pushing that old "Free Trade" BULLSHIT!

[Populist_Prole]

38. I share all your cynicism: He's just whistling past the graveyard

Like a steer: A point here, and point there, and a lotta' bull in between. Just the latest iteration of hoping for the next big thing. I mean, come on: We've been hearing this garbage for years!

In summation: More blowing happy-hope sunshine up our asses to distract us from the fact that the direction this country will actually take is to accelerate more "free trade" and globalism and erosion of our industrial base.

[earcandle]

43. Robots, not people, get jobs...duh?

[fujiyama]

46. You can't stop innovation

I see it positive that our president is pledging to invest in science and technology. Robotics is an incredibly exciting field which has applications all across the board - and there are some things robots can simply do much more efficiently and consistently than humans. That said, I think companies that do eliminate jobs due to automation should make efforts to retrain their workers. But from what I can see, few companies in this country are putting resources in R&D, so we're losing our edge there as well.

As others said, this isn't really a short term solution. The only solution I see is a massive public works program for infrastructure maintenance and development - not only roads and bridges, but investments in our grid, and renewable energy. All easier said than done though. The power to fund such a program lies with congress.

So expect nothing other than tax cuts.

[alp227]

48. For those who swallowed up this AP line of "Obama wants robots" READ the address

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/06/25/weekly-address-strengthening-america-investing-home
And Obama did acknowledge "we can't simply cut our way to prosperity"

"...we can’t simply cut our way to prosperity. We need to do what’s necessary to grow our economy; create good, middle-class jobs; and make it possible for all Americans to pursue their dreams.

That means giving our kids the best education in the world so they have the knowledge and skills to succeed in this economy. It means rebuilding our crumbling roads, railways, and runways. And it means investing in the cutting-edge research and technologies that will spur growth in the years ahead – from clean energy to advanced manufacturing.

That’s why I’m here today at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, one of America’s leading research universities. Behind me is a display from a company called RedZone Robotics. The robots they make are used to explore water and sewage pipes, and find leaks and breaks before they become expensive problems. But the folks at RedZone aren’t just solving problems; they’re working with unions to create new jobs operating the robots, and they’re saving cities millions of dollars in infrastructure costs."

[Lucky Luciano]

75. Context is everything, isn't it!? Many here need to take back their soundbyte induced comments!

[Synicus Maximus]

49. The story goes that Milton Friedman was once taken

to see a massive government project somewhere in Asia. Thousands of workers using shovels were building a canal. Friedman was puzzled. Why weren't there any excavators or any mechanized earth-moving equipment? A government official explained that using shovels created more jobs. Friedman's response: "Then why not use spoons instead of shovels?"

[izquierdista]

54. Too bad they didn't put him to work....

...with a 1/4 teaspoon. Maybe that would have cut down on the amount of bullshit he generated.

[jmowreader]

51. The real problem with Obama's plan here...

I see a lot of "automation killed labor" posts here, and in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution it was true.

In the post-Reagan years, labor killed automation: it is cheaper to send the work to China and have your product made by hand, than it is to hire five Americans and equip them with high-tech machinery.

Until we figure out how to get around that, we'll be a nation of people selling cheap Chinese crap to other people who sell cheap Chinese crap.

[eilen]

63. Alot of companies just shipped their machines/robots to China nt

[jmowreader]

65. Many companies did, true...

but there are a LOT of contract manufacturers in China, like Foxconn, that never had a presence in the US.

The reality is, handwork in China is less expensive than automation either in the US or China. How many man-days of labor do you have to eliminate to pay for a $125,000 CNC machine, when the man-days of labor cost three bucks?

[Kurska]

58. More robots=more competitive with third world countries.

Keep that money state side. More jobs will stay here, more money stays here and worst case scenario service industry jobs replace the old manufacturing.

[panzerfaust]

62. Advanced Manufacturing [ie Robots] Can Boost Jobs [in China]

Those big orange guys - they union or not?

Yeah. I know that is why vehicles cost relatively little, but it might be better for all of us if they cost a bit more?

[robcon]

64. The economic ignorance displayed on this thread is incredible.

The ONLY way to spur economic growth is an increase in output per person: higher productivity = more output per person = more income per person.

Robots are a good source of income growth. Does anyone doubt that their income is higher because of the automation of automobile production? Or automation of computer chip production? Or the increase in output per person in bigger retail stores?

[w4rma]

66. Why does more productivity matter when the guys at the top just take a larger slice of the profit

and the prices of the products keep going up.

[woo me with science]

67. We have *had* tremendous increases in productivity over the past several years.

The corporations responded by not hiring, keeping wages stagnant, and increasing job responsibilities, since obviously one person can do more.

[No Elephants]

71. More productive U.S. worker = richer U.S. worker? Got a link that supports that

re: the last couple of decades?

[defendandprotect]

78. We need government to create jobs... not corporations we subsidize to do it -- !!

[marasinghe]

79. 2012 elections = cliche' of the day campaign, on both sides. (n/t)

[sendero]

82. Obama cracks me up..

.. three years into this debacle he starts thinking about jobs, and this, a plan with a 3 year lead time, is all he can come up with.

It truly boggles the mind.