Comments on: This Job Is Half Empty

By: David B

David B — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:12:02 +0000

I had years of experience in retail fast-food, and it was tremendously helpful for me. I know of very few other careers where employers assume that their employees have no prior training whatsoever, assume the cost of training them, and then dramatically reward hard work.

All it takes to get into management in a fast-food place is a lot of hard work, and speaking English. I saw a bunch of folks who bought houses based on their salaries, so it's quite possible to do okay for oneself there.

By: markm

markm — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 04:47:12 +0000

Charlie: Since American manufacturing output keeps increasing (as an absolute number, even though it must not be increasing as fast as our consumption as the percentage of imports keeps increasing), any net job loss must be due to productivity improvements such as automation. Of course, without those productivity improvements, we’d be losing manufacturing production as well as jobs – the work goes to whoever can do it cheapest on a per-unit basis.

By: DWPittelli

DWPittelli — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:12:12 +0000

I think I agree with your broader point (that leftist economic arguments are often opportunistic, and leftist state policies often counterproductive), but I will point out that when I moved to an area with mostly closed mills and much reduced manufacturing employment and population (i.e., North Adams and Adams MA), I noticed that McDonalds and other retail businesses employ many more middle-aged and older people of both sexes. They are also often “hang-outs” for retired people. Many if not most of the older workers and customers worked in local manufacturing mills (e.g., Sprague Electric) until about 15-20 years ago.

By: Allen

Allen — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:41:32 +0000

Would we hear as much lamenting over the loss of these manufacturing jobs (note : loss at the same time of all-time high in manufacturing output) if they weren’t concentrated in areas that aren’t adding job. That is, if all those jobs being added in high job-growth areas like Phoenix, the Inland Empire, Dallas and others were instead popping up in Toledo, Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo and others that are where it would seem these manufacturing jobs are disappearing from would we hear as much about it?

By: Charlie B

Charlie B — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:22:01 +0000

How many manufacturing jobs are actually lost to factory automation?

By: JoshK

JoshK — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:43:30 +0000

Good post. Econ talk recently had a good interview with George Schultz. He made a good point. Most government statistics use the categorizations of the 1920′s and are not always applicable any more.

By: Moron Pundit

Moron Pundit — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 17:10:10 +0000

Excellent post! Especially the part about the left not actually caring about what they "say" but trying to find any excuse to socialize.

I remember during the big terrorism debate a while back, my lefty friend told me we're no better than the enemy if we allow waterboarding. I told him how ridiculous that was and that he was obviously dealing in hyperbole.

I'll never forget what he said, "The team with the best propaganda wins."

That is, in a nutshell, the world view of the left.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:37:49 +0000

Don’t forget the immense flexibility that a McDonalds job can provide. Once you’ve worked successfully at one, you can get on the schedule at another, halfway across the country, on very short notice. Need a 3 hour shift, 2 days a week? Your average busy McDonalds can probably accommodate that.