Today I learned +

[Bohandas]

And to be clear, this isn’t about political/economic system types. There is no kind of government that can function without tax revenues, and there can’t be tax revenue if the population is facing inexorable rising unemployment.

I think the Inca empire had periodic mandatory stints of government service instead of taxes. Or at least that's what they said on Extra History (although they also stipulated that there were some inconsistencies in the historical records that have come down to us)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I think the Inca empire had periodic mandatory stints of government service instead of taxes. Or at least that's what they said on Extra History (although they also stipulated that there were some inconsistencies in the historical records that have come down to us)

Even with that, government service by taxpayers doesn’t necessarily pave roads, repair bridges, arm & feed soldiers. Barter on massive scales is kinda self-limiting, especially as you start talking about higher tech goods.

 

[dragoner]

I have written about some of this.

 

[Bohandas]

Even with that, government service by taxpayers doesn’t necessarily pave roads, repair bridges, arm & feed soldiers.

No, I mean that kinda stuff's what they had them doing

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

No, I mean that kinda stuff's what they had them doing

…And how do these workers pay rent, buy groceries, etc?

 

[Bohandas]

Let me just put a link to the video

 

[Bohandas]

Also, before all this AI business, hadn't there been worries that we woundn't have enough workers because of declining birth rates, aging populations, etc.? Well now that's not a problem. A wise man once said: too much is always better than not enough.

 

[Ryujin]

Also, before all this AI business, hadn't there been worries that we woundn't have enough workers because of declining birth rates, aging populations, etc.? Well now that's not a problem. A wise man once said: too much is always better than not enough.

The issue of insufficient workers tends to impact physical labour positions, rather than those easily or cheaply replaced by AI. I don't see ChatGPT picking grapes any time soon.

 

[Reynard]

The issue of insufficient workers tends to impact physical labour positions, rather than those easily or cheaply replaced by AI. I don't see ChatGPT picking grapes any time soon.

Sure. The robots will take the jobs of highly trained and educated people, and humans will do the dumbest, most menial labor since humans will be cheaper than the robots.

 

[Ryujin]

Sure. The robots will take the jobs of highly trained and educated people, and humans will do the dumbest, most menial labor since humans will be cheaper than the robots.

Epsilons we are and Epsilons we will remain. Pass the Soma.