@JoeChick I didn’t know he was so chintzy with paying his employees. maybe someday he’ll learn that’s not good policy.

So far as displacing jobs, viewed from an overall perspective that should be a good thing—just think, better efficiency means less work to be done and more time for people to relax and live. If it’s just work that’s wanted people could dig holes and fill them up, or something like that.

But of course there’s the problem of equitable distribution. If people are needy and can’t find jobs measures might be taken so that work is shared. Maybe a shorter workweek would help.

I’d like to see a massive public trust fund that would eliminate taxes and provide a life subsistence income for all citizens. Is that a pipe dream?

I think you miss the point of the article. It isn't about what ONE man can do, it's about what one man CAN do, but doesn't. We have real problems in the world, but in western countries, esp. America, we are so insulated and disconnected, selfish and self-absorbed, we don't even know about the real world problems...much less care. Much like the SJWs on this site gripping about not having band-aids in their skin color, or that women in America have it so bad, while the majority of the world doesn't even have clean water to drink, or food enough to eat.

@jondspen It would be nice if the guy would spread his wealth around, but look at what he HAS contributed to society. He has brought us this fantastic on-line retail center that is convenient and saves travel costs. He has been rewarded in kind, but his having wealth in no way causes others to be poor.

If it’s clean water that’s needed around the world maybe we should invest in developing a well-digging technology that would meet that need. Direct action would be more effective than complaining because someone else is not doing the job.

@WilliamFleming Sure...he has built a company that undercuts local small businesses and participated in anti-competitive practices (both of these I would argue do cause others to be poor). And yes, before you go off on your "capitalism is great" speech, they also have sold nazi t-shirts, pedophile guides, and engaged in tax evasion (Japan and UK). But given the pro-capitalism/anti-labor rhetoric of the US media since the 1950s, what do you expect? [en.wikipedia.org]
Again, while the article is about him, it's not really about him. It's about our twisted selfish, profit over people mentality.

@jondspen Do you think that the most efficient way to distribute merchandise is through small local shops? Is the best way to feed the world through small subsistence farms? Should each family make its own clothes? Boy, you could sure create a lot of jobs that way. Whatever happened to economy of scale?

Compare our abundant lifestyles of today with life just a hundred years ago. Industry and trading have brought great advances. Throttle free trade and we’ll go backwards.Just a hundred years ago my folks were plowing with mules from dawn to dusk. They drew water from an open well and had an outhouse.

@WilliamFleming To most of your questions the answer is no...I will say it is a nice redirect from the original article and also the points I made.

And 'abundant lifestyle' is a point of view. Considering most people are depressed, hate their jobs, mortgaged to the neck on a house, car, college tuition...they are tied to a job they hate that is slowly killing them, can't get away from it they buy more crap (car, boats, motorcycles) to distract but in the end doesn't bring them much happiness.

"Industry and trading have brought great advances." - yes, and I think in 100% of the time, initially runs unregulated, harming the environment, community, and the workers employed. From the Triangle Fires of NY, to present day coal miners and fracking. Sure, it's done some amazing things...as well as some horrible things.

"Throttle free trade and we’ll go backwards." - perhaps, perhaps not...can't blanket statement every instance accurately. I do know that if you don't throttle unbridled capitalism, it can turn into monopolies that cause backwards economic and social conditions. Also, at what point did I say that labor rights, community health, and a live-able wage means free trade can't exist?

"Just a hundred years ago my folks were plowing with mules from dawn to dusk. They drew water from an open well and had an outhouse." - yep, and while they didn't have a TV in every room, or inside plumbing, what they had was theirs, was of value and quality, including their lives. My great-grandparents and grandparents lived a hard life here in rural Tennessee also, but were happy, had close relationships with their family and friends in the community. Homemade hand-cranked ice cream, a guitar, and lightening bugs on a June night had more meaning and enjoyment than a full season of "The Bachelor" or "Dancing with the Stars". Now both husband and wife are forced to work to make ends meet, leaving no one at home to raise the kids, and unlike 100 years ago, you have a 50+% divorce rate, higher depression and suicide rates. And those are just examples off the top of my head.

@jondspen I agree that social conditions have changed and that in some ways we are worse off. Society has been affected by new technologies that have weakened the family unit. Also there are masses of people now, and yes, a lot of people seem unhappy.

On the other hand, a lot of people are thriving and happy. They are the ones with optimistic outlooks who think true and positive thoughts. There are ways of spicing up your life. If a person can’t learn to like their job they can switch to something else. They can engage in sports and hobbies, read, travel, etc. etc. If consumer goods are a millstone they can get rid of those things. Get rid of the TV. Steps can be taken.

I think we romanticize the old days too much. Life was meaningful then for most people, and it can be meaningful today for us.

Every moment of conscious awareness is a precious gift to be savored in wonder and awe.

@JoeChick Yeah figures lie, and liars figure. It's hard to know what's accurate for sure. What you can likely take to the bank in these situations though is that whatever they end up doing is overstated in its significance and impact and is done reluctantly and passive-aggressively.