Changing world

Early humans were collaborative because it was in their best interest. One person alone was not likely to survive if attacked by a wild beast. But if 10 were together, the group could drive off the beast that attacked one of them. They knew that the person they saved would return the favor by helping to forage for food, or when building shelter for the group. Everything was safer and easier with collaboration. Because life was difficult only the fittest survived and reproduced.

But then humans killed off most of the dangerous beasts and created money. We could go alone with less fear because there was less risk. Additionally we could buy what we couldn't do by ourselves. This freed us from having relationships with people we didn't like. Life was not easy yet, but we could be more independent.

Then we created machines. These machines make work much easier. We also improved our health and medicine. Because work was easier, not as many people were needed to raise crops. People moved to the cities. We liked the independence that we had been developing so we created single family homes, rather than homes where three generations lived together. This privacy and improved medicine meant that more children survived into adult-hood and the population exploded. For a while there were enough new industries being created that the giant population could be put to work.

Then we created new machines that were more complex and even more efficient. These new machines eliminated jobs. One machine could do the work of dozens and in some cases hundreds of people. Additionally, the complexity of operation required people with great intelligence and education to operate them, a bar was created.

At this point more people are surviving into adult-hood. The diseases and wild beasts that killed off the deficient members of the population are no longer in place. More mediocre people are part of the population. We've made it medically possible for the weak to survive. We have more people -some who are less capable or less educated- and fewer, but more demanding jobs.

How do we keep these less capable people employed? Service jobs. The problem is that service jobs pay less and the weak struggle. Is it fair for the fortunate who are smart and educated enough to operate a high tech machine, or run a business to make more money? Or should we be compassionate and share the wealth with the people who we've allowed to exist by eliminating the risks that would have eliminated them in earlier times?

We have changed the world in favorable ways, but our social change is slow to catch up. We allow a minority to have huge wealth. We are reticent to redistribute it. Large numbers of people are currently unemployed, meaning they have no money for purchases. If we were to change the work week, make a 30 hour week full time for manufacturing industries what would be the result?

Unemployment would be a thing of the past. If every company today that has 3 shifts had to change to 4 shifts every person currently unemployed would be re-employed. Suddenly every person who is currently limited to his or her unemployment income or familial charity or begging could have earnings and perhaps even discretionary income. More people would be able to buy cars, furniture, clothes. If more people are buying goods, the prices could come down.

Let's say that it costs 5 cents to make a widget. 5 people buy one widget at 10 cents a piece. Total revenue is 50 cents, total costs were 25 cents and total earnings were 25 cents. Now let's say that the cost of making widgets goes up to 6 cents a widget because we are paying more people to make them, but now 10 people buy a widget at the same 10 cents a piece. Revenue is 1.00, our total costs are 60 cents, but we are now making 40 cents because so many more people were able to buy them.

Initially the government would likely have to provide incentives to manufacturers who are going to 6 hour days, but the value would eventually be shown. People could spend more time with their children. They could more easily improve themselves. They would have time and energy for volunteer endeavors, exercise, and education.

Let's recognize that we've changed our world and that we now need to change our society.

Talent Promoters

I am a member of a volunteer organization called Talent Promoters. Members of the organization make contact with companies of interest to establish relationships and then promote themselves and their colleagues to attempt to obtain a position with the company.


We've heard that most jobs are not advertised because they are filled through relationships. We are trying to find jobs by creating meaningful relationships through networking and cold calling.


While it is difficult to call companies and establish a relationship, it is a good way to obtain a job for you or a member of your group. You establish yourself as someone more interesting than the person who simply emails a resume.


While I am going to work full time soon, I think that Talent Promoters is a great organization for any unemployed professional who is trying to get connected. I intend to continue supporting the efforts of Talent Promoters.