The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

scaeagles · 05-11-2006, 12:44 PM

As Alex pointed out, innovation and invention can take the place of field workers when economically feasable.

I wish I could remember the details of this.....about 40 years ago there was a strike in California of tomato pickers. At that point in time no one had yet developed a machine that could pick them and it was not practical to spend the money to do so. During a threatened strike by tomato pickers, a farmer worked with existing fruit picking machines and developed one that could pick tomatos without crushing them.

Since the labor was going to cost more, the machine was developed, and there was no longer a need for tomato pickers.

I would suspect that automation is possible for a lot of these job when wage demands escalate.

05-11-2006, 12:44 PM	#1
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	As Alex pointed out, innovation and invention can take the place of field workers when economically feasable. I wish I could remember the details of this.....about 40 years ago there was a strike in California of tomato pickers. At that point in time no one had yet developed a machine that could pick them and it was not practical to spend the money to do so. During a threatened strike by tomato pickers, a farmer worked with existing fruit picking machines and developed one that could pick tomatos without crushing them. Since the labor was going to cost more, the machine was developed, and there was no longer a need for tomato pickers. I would suspect that automation is possible for a lot of these job when wage demands escalate.
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