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RE: The Eventual Death of Universities
Bang on mate. I too have faced these situations. I believe the education system needs to change as per the students not as per money. The unemployment rate is steadily increasing and to counter that I don't believe enough steps are being taken by the government.
Increasing the number of institutes doesn't guarantee the availability of quality to every student.
The government is actually making the whole thing worse because they sponsor this lunacy.
100% true!
The rising unemployment rate is the most positive influence on human freedom extant.
I have held many 'jobs', both in public service and private (corporate) industry. When I beheld my firstborn son, I began my career of itinerant handyman and investor in real property, so that I could forego the expense of currency while reaping the real wealth of service and property.
I have lately foregone property as well, and find the increase in freedom that comes from abandoning the 'tyranny of stuff' practically incalculable. I own my tools, and fix things for folks that cover the expenses for which money is needed, such as electricity, rent, and internet.
Jobs are slavery. Arbeit Macht Frei!
Jobs are slavery, spot on!
Without "jobs" there would be no electricity or internet. Working as an independent contractor is still a job.
That remains true today, but only because the future hasn't happened yet. I cannot denigrate those that have, and do what is needful, but do also what is needful myself, and I wouldn't call myself a contractor, although I have the skills.
I reckon I correctly categorized me as an itinerant handyman, even though I am just finishing a 'job' that was fairly extensive. Most of my work is less involved, and takes less than two months to complete.
I have just watched a video on view.ly of an interview of Elon Musk at the World Government (something or other. Forum, Institute, Congress.. don't recall exactly). One of the last points he makes is that automation is going to replace human labor. What he neglects (and may not realize) is that non-point source production is going to replace capitalism at the same time. The means of production are being dispersed into the population, in the form of 3D printers, laser cutters, etc.. Over time these products are becoming better, smaller, and cheaper, and the distribution is growing.
A day comes when nothing, no product, nor any service, will be necessary to any individual that they cannot make themselves. I already have a solar panel on my truck, and just recently discovered that my alternator hasn't worked for ~6 months or so, and the solar panel was charging the battery bank enough that I never even noticed that the alternator wasn't working until I took a longer trip.
Mesh networks, IPFS, cryptocurrency, and similar endeavors are being undertaken for the internet, which also eliminate centralization and need for capitalist ventures.
All systems people rely on are becoming decentralized, personalized, and eventually, will be free, as automation seeks no pay. Robots have a capital cost, but once robots that build robots are common, there is no labor cost. Robots that mine, process, and distribute resources will also be involved, and eventually, there will be no capital costs any more - at all.
As we purchase such production equipment, we are purchasing our freedom, just as slaves did with wages just a couple hundred years ago. Indeed, as in the USA all prisoners are slaves, not only confined, but forced to work (and which work is sold), so paying fines in lieu of jail is a form of manumission today.
sigh - I need to make a post about it lol.
Anyway, this is part of the reason for the current unemployment spike. In the USA about 20% of workers are unemployed, although the government figures count only recently unemployed persons, so underreport the number dramatically. This is the beginning of real freedom.
Prepare for war LOL.
I laugh, but am serious. Freedom isn't free, and our masters care more about their power over people than luxury goods. Even if they don't need labor to have their standard of living, it is primarily the power over people that causes them to chafe at the prospect of the post market economy.
I do expect war, famine, plague, and more, as a result.
Free Ulbricht Ross!
The future is the future and anything can happen. Maybe the singularity is coming and Skynet will kill us all. Certainly, no matter what, big changes are coming but I don't think capitalism will go away completely nor will universities go away completely.
Automation is certainly going to play a huge role in the types of employment opportunities that exist in the future but it will be a long, long time (if ever) before automation is absolute. And I'm pretty sure "itinerant handyman" is a specific type of independent contractor :)
Either way, for today, attending a university is still an excellent investment for a large number of people. Everything dies eventually but I don't think universities are going away in my lifetime.
meep