Local businesses need to pay local and state sales taxes because they use and depend on roads, water, gas, police, fire departments, and other local infrastructure. Internet-based businesses do not.
Now, Amazon does, in fact, ship things to you... via trucks owned by shipping companies that pay local taxes, and via trucks licensed locally, and fueled locally.
IOW, that local FedEx warehouse pays property taxes and income taxes. The truck driving down your street is licensed and pays excise taxes. The gas in it is taxed. And so on.
In short, those trucks that are still "using the roads" have already paid to do so, and taxing them twice over makes no sense at all.
Comcast users in various parts of the country have already gotten (or may soon get) a lovely holiday present from their ISP—a seemingly inexplicable increase in the cable modem rental fee, from $8 to $10 per month.
That has to be the stupidest article I've ever seen. If a woman leaves her purse behind with a bunch of credit cards in it... SHE'S ALREADY LOST THE CARDS!
Further, you just need to jot down the numbers to steal them. The phone's not needed at all.
But since you seem to think that they're equally insecure, let's try this. We both go to a seedy bar. You leave your wallet with credit cards behind, and I'll leave my Apple Pay-enabled Touch ID protected iPhone behind.
We then wait to see whose card numbers get stolen first, and whose appear second (if at all).
Actually, it does go through (not threw) the phone. A token representing your credit card number is stored on the phone in the secure enclave. iOS doesn't have access to the number, it can only tell the enclave to include it in an NFC transaction along with a seemingly random security code.
Breaking NFC encrypting and capturing the token doesn't do you any good. The security code is one time use, and the token is also tied to a specific device so it can't be used on another phone.
Oh, and the token comes from your bank, not from Apple.
Apple Pay, unlike Google Wallet and CurrentC, also works without an internet connection. The only communication made is passing the authorization token to the payment terminal via NFC.
It would be nice if people bothered to learn how something works before setting up a straw man "it has to work this way" argument they can then proceed to knock down.
I'm glad you added the "As far as I know" qualifier to your statement.
The tokenization system used by Apple isn't a proprietary system.
Tokenization is handled, in part, by the Visa Token Service for Visa and the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service for MC. Amex has a similar service. While different in name, the AMCV (Amex, MC, and Visa) systems are in fact standardized, and together they've proposed a common framework to the industry.
"Such equipment should be forbidden outside of the military."
Agreed. Now, how do we get them out of their hands?
BTW, by "their hands", I mean both the cops AND the citizenry, as both are walking the streets with assault rifles (excuse me, modern sporting rifles) at the ready.
I never claimed they were racist or bigots, though I could direct you to a few accounts as to what happened when some Hispanic supporters attempted to join the troops.
I did imply, however, that were predominately white, predominately from the south, and that they lacked common sense in that they rushed out, gun in hand, to "defend" a thief and a liar from the big bad "guv'ment'.
And your patriotism is noted. But at the moment I'm more worried about the people who happen to think that the problems with this "fucking government" are best solved with an AR-15.
So a bunch of white rednecks with more rifles than common sense showed up to "defend" Citizen Bundy -- as well as take out a few WalMart shoppers in their spare time -- and you think that's a good thing?
Huh. Perhaps it's time for the Black Panthers and other "militia" groups to rise up once more and march, assault weapons in hand, to Ferguson...
Re: Re: Re: Re: I have to disagree with you on this one
"If 80% of their workload went away, they would be freed up to give their full attention to the patients who have really difficult problems, leading to a better outcome for everybody, both patients and doctors."
You presume that hospitals wouldn't simply reduce the number of doctors, nurses, and other caregivers to the point were 20% are now supporting the same workload.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I have to disagree with you on this one
I really don't want to start off a counter-argument by saying you're an idiot... but, you're an idiot.
Should society collapse to the point where your "skills" are needed, you're as screwed as everyone else. Live off the land? Right. We're long past the point of society "living off the land", and you're not going to find anything to hunt or fish when millions of others are trying to do the same.
Armed? Yep. So are millions of other people, and if a gang of them wants whatever meager food you've managed to grow in your window box , you're also screwed.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
Which part of "as more and more sectors automate" isn't clear? It's not just one type of job. It's jobs in sector A and sector B and sector C and D and E and F and J and K...
Computerization, software, automation, telepresence, and other technologies are going to have a profound impact on jobs and employment, displacing millions upon millions of jobs and workers. What we've seen thus far is just the tip of the iceberg.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
"Tellers still provide valuable services, but since they're not the only option for most like they used to be, you don't need so many of them per branch.'
Precisely. Those jobs are replaced by computers and automation.
"TMs, data centres, call centres, etc. still need to employ people as well to build, maintain and operate them."
A single data center NOC of 12 people can support thousands, if not millions of online "businesses" and services. ATMs are built in automated factories, and a couple of guys in a couple of trucks can support all of that banks ATMs in your average city. (ATMs report their own status, signal when cash is low, etc.)
What's so hard to understand here? Automation means you can do more with fewer people. More jobs, at all levels of the economy, are becoming automated, even at the companies producing the machines that do the automation.
Follow that trend, and you end up with not enough jobs.
"And if technology is also driving the cost of essential goods down, why are the larger salaries even required?"
Weel, there's this thin called "inflation". And another thing called "scarcity". Tried to buy or rent an apartment in NYC or San Francisco recently? Buy a house? Even pay the rising property taxes on land? Paid for health insurance or health care?
As I pointed out, automation allows locally located mills to be competitive in the global marketplace. Barely. Mills overseas can use the same exact machines, and have lower costs with cheaper labor. Basically, one saves on shipping and time-to-market.
Open another mill? Wow. Another 150 jobs. You'd need 13 mills to replace the 2,000 jobs lost in just the first mill alone, much less the 26,000 people 13 old-style mills would have employed. Assuming. of course, that the demand is there to support them.
Next point: more people can buy "nice" mass-produced stuff only if they have the jobs to support doing so.
Unfortunately, the economy is contracting in that regard. And this is the point you seem to miss. People displaced are often thrown out of work and/or forced into lower paying jobs, which in turn contract the economy even further. Job "creation" is largely failing to keep pace with population growth.
And your claim, "We haven't even touched on how automation can support service industries..." simply underscores the point. Automation is moving into those areas as well, with fewer jobs needed as a direct result.
As I pointed out, no one says time to stand still. But adjusted for population, there are fewer tellers. And again, why? We have more people, In a "growing" economy we'd have more money to handle.
But technology has eliminated the need for tellers to keep up with the corresponding rise in population growth. ATMs, online banking, more credit card readers, etc., mean fewer jobs in that sector.
And that would be fine, unless we start to see fewer jobs in other sectors, as well. Which we are, and even in service jobs. Scan it yourself checkouts reduce the need for checkers. Tablets being introduced in some restaurants reduce the need for waitstaff. I can renew my plates and drivers license online now, so fewer branches and employees.
Online services like RocketLaywer are even reducing the need for lawyers and clerks for many routine tasks (poser of attorney).
And Mike has another point wrong. People who point out these things aren't Luddites. I've been using computers for decades now, and I have no wish nor desire to turn back the clock.
But we are rapidly reaching an inflection point, and the sooner we recognize that fact, the sooner we can try to do something about it.
And as I pointed out below, there are more bank tellers than ever before because there are more PEOPLE than ever before.
In 1985 the US pop was 237M. In 2002, it was 287M, or a 18% increase. There were 485K tellers in 1985, and 527K in 2002. That's mere 8% increase.
So, adjusted for population, there were FEWER tellers in 2002 than there were in 1985. Why? We had 50 million more people. Why not more tellers to maintain the same level of service?
Or did computers, ATMs, online banking, and other services reduce the need to have extra employees standing around in every bank branch in the US?
Come on, Mike. It's not like you to make such an elementary mistake.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
Sigh. There are more bank tellers than ever before because there are more PEOPLE than ever before.
In 1985 the US pop was 237M. In 2002, 287M, or a 18% increase. There were 485K tellers in 1985, and 527K in 2002. That's mere 8% increase.
So, adjusted for population, there were FEWER tellers in 2002 than there were in 1985. Why? We had more people. Why not more tellers to maintain the same level of service?
Or did computers, ATMs, online banking, and other services reduce the need to have an extra employee standing in every bank branch in the US?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
"When automation throws people out of work, people find new work to do."
I can go in my backyard and "work", but that doesn't mean that I'm going to get paid for it. People only get paid for work when that work provides goods or services to someone else. And that someone else has to be able to afford to pay for those goods and services.
And if that someone else is also unemployed, then you have a problem.
That's the US problem in a nutshell. Companies automated or off shored high paying jobs. The people laid off then had to compete for low-paying jobs, driving some out of work, but most importantly giving them less money to spend themselves. When means less demand for goods and services, which means you need fewer people to meet that demand, so more people are laid off and have less money to spend, which reduces demand...
On the post: Chicago Rages Against The Future With 9% Tax On Netflix, Spotify And Other Streaming Services
Re: Re: Re:
Now, Amazon does, in fact, ship things to you... via trucks owned by shipping companies that pay local taxes, and via trucks licensed locally, and fueled locally.
IOW, that local FedEx warehouse pays property taxes and income taxes. The truck driving down your street is licensed and pays excise taxes. The gas in it is taxed. And so on.
In short, those trucks that are still "using the roads" have already paid to do so, and taxing them twice over makes no sense at all.
On the post: Yet Another Horrible Comcast Customer Service Experience Goes Viral
Re: "Senior VP of Customer Experience"
Comcast users in various parts of the country have already gotten (or may soon get) a lovely holiday present from their ISP—a seemingly inexplicable increase in the cable modem rental fee, from $8 to $10 per month.
arstechnica.com/business/2014/12/comcast-just-upped-its-cable-modem-rental-fee-from-8-to-10-pe r-month/
Apparently a 12-month "contract" is no such thing whatsoever.
On the post: Iowa Dept. Of Transportation Announces Plan To Give Police Officers, Security Personnel Full Access To Your Smartphone
Re: Is a warrant still needed?
So potentially you could pull up the app, lock it, and hand your phone over and the only thing they could see is that app.
On the post: Payment Wars: How Merchants And Carriers Are Trying To Block Payment Systems They Can't Track
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Or do "standards" not count unless they're "open".
On the post: Payment Wars: How Merchants And Carriers Are Trying To Block Payment Systems They Can't Track
Re:
Further, you just need to jot down the numbers to steal them. The phone's not needed at all.
But since you seem to think that they're equally insecure, let's try this. We both go to a seedy bar. You leave your wallet with credit cards behind, and I'll leave my Apple Pay-enabled Touch ID protected iPhone behind.
We then wait to see whose card numbers get stolen first, and whose appear second (if at all).
On the post: Payment Wars: How Merchants And Carriers Are Trying To Block Payment Systems They Can't Track
Re: Re: Re:
Breaking NFC encrypting and capturing the token doesn't do you any good. The security code is one time use, and the token is also tied to a specific device so it can't be used on another phone.
Oh, and the token comes from your bank, not from Apple.
Apple Pay, unlike Google Wallet and CurrentC, also works without an internet connection. The only communication made is passing the authorization token to the payment terminal via NFC.
It would be nice if people bothered to learn how something works before setting up a straw man "it has to work this way" argument they can then proceed to knock down.
On the post: Payment Wars: How Merchants And Carriers Are Trying To Block Payment Systems They Can't Track
Re: Re:
The tokenization system used by Apple isn't a proprietary system.
Tokenization is handled, in part, by the Visa Token Service for Visa and the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service for MC. Amex has a similar service. While different in name, the AMCV (Amex, MC, and Visa) systems are in fact standardized, and together they've proposed a common framework to the industry.
Apple Pay is built on this standard.
So much for assumptions....
On the post: Why Do Police In Suburban St. Louis Have More Powerful Weapons Than Marines In Afghanistan?
Re:
Agreed. Now, how do we get them out of their hands?
BTW, by "their hands", I mean both the cops AND the citizenry, as both are walking the streets with assault rifles (excuse me, modern sporting rifles) at the ready.
On the post: Police Militarization, Citizen Journalism And The Suppression Of Free Speech: The Ferguson Fiasco Highlights Systemic Problem
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
I did imply, however, that were predominately white, predominately from the south, and that they lacked common sense in that they rushed out, gun in hand, to "defend" a thief and a liar from the big bad "guv'ment'.
And your patriotism is noted. But at the moment I'm more worried about the people who happen to think that the problems with this "fucking government" are best solved with an AR-15.
On the post: Police Militarization, Citizen Journalism And The Suppression Of Free Speech: The Ferguson Fiasco Highlights Systemic Problem
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
Huh. Perhaps it's time for the Black Panthers and other "militia" groups to rise up once more and march, assault weapons in hand, to Ferguson...
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: I have to disagree with you on this one
You presume that hospitals wouldn't simply reduce the number of doctors, nurses, and other caregivers to the point were 20% are now supporting the same workload.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: I have to disagree with you on this one
Should society collapse to the point where your "skills" are needed, you're as screwed as everyone else. Live off the land? Right. We're long past the point of society "living off the land", and you're not going to find anything to hunt or fish when millions of others are trying to do the same.
Armed? Yep. So are millions of other people, and if a gang of them wants whatever meager food you've managed to grow in your window box , you're also screwed.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
Computerization, software, automation, telepresence, and other technologies are going to have a profound impact on jobs and employment, displacing millions upon millions of jobs and workers. What we've seen thus far is just the tip of the iceberg.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
Precisely. Those jobs are replaced by computers and automation.
"TMs, data centres, call centres, etc. still need to employ people as well to build, maintain and operate them."
A single data center NOC of 12 people can support thousands, if not millions of online "businesses" and services. ATMs are built in automated factories, and a couple of guys in a couple of trucks can support all of that banks ATMs in your average city. (ATMs report their own status, signal when cash is low, etc.)
What's so hard to understand here? Automation means you can do more with fewer people. More jobs, at all levels of the economy, are becoming automated, even at the companies producing the machines that do the automation.
Follow that trend, and you end up with not enough jobs.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Weel, there's this thin called "inflation". And another thing called "scarcity". Tried to buy or rent an apartment in NYC or San Francisco recently? Buy a house? Even pay the rising property taxes on land? Paid for health insurance or health care?
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re:
Open another mill? Wow. Another 150 jobs. You'd need 13 mills to replace the 2,000 jobs lost in just the first mill alone, much less the 26,000 people 13 old-style mills would have employed. Assuming. of course, that the demand is there to support them.
Next point: more people can buy "nice" mass-produced stuff only if they have the jobs to support doing so.
Unfortunately, the economy is contracting in that regard. And this is the point you seem to miss. People displaced are often thrown out of work and/or forced into lower paying jobs, which in turn contract the economy even further. Job "creation" is largely failing to keep pace with population growth.
And your claim, "We haven't even touched on how automation can support service industries..." simply underscores the point. Automation is moving into those areas as well, with fewer jobs needed as a direct result.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re:
But technology has eliminated the need for tellers to keep up with the corresponding rise in population growth. ATMs, online banking, more credit card readers, etc., mean fewer jobs in that sector.
And that would be fine, unless we start to see fewer jobs in other sectors, as well. Which we are, and even in service jobs. Scan it yourself checkouts reduce the need for checkers. Tablets being introduced in some restaurants reduce the need for waitstaff. I can renew my plates and drivers license online now, so fewer branches and employees.
Online services like RocketLaywer are even reducing the need for lawyers and clerks for many routine tasks (poser of attorney).
And Mike has another point wrong. People who point out these things aren't Luddites. I've been using computers for decades now, and I have no wish nor desire to turn back the clock.
But we are rapidly reaching an inflection point, and the sooner we recognize that fact, the sooner we can try to do something about it.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re:
In 1985 the US pop was 237M. In 2002, it was 287M, or a 18% increase. There were 485K tellers in 1985, and 527K in 2002. That's mere 8% increase.
So, adjusted for population, there were FEWER tellers in 2002 than there were in 1985. Why? We had 50 million more people. Why not more tellers to maintain the same level of service?
Or did computers, ATMs, online banking, and other services reduce the need to have extra employees standing around in every bank branch in the US?
Come on, Mike. It's not like you to make such an elementary mistake.
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
In 1985 the US pop was 237M. In 2002, 287M, or a 18% increase. There were 485K tellers in 1985, and 527K in 2002. That's mere 8% increase.
So, adjusted for population, there were FEWER tellers in 2002 than there were in 1985. Why? We had more people. Why not more tellers to maintain the same level of service?
Or did computers, ATMs, online banking, and other services reduce the need to have an extra employee standing in every bank branch in the US?
On the post: Luddites Are Almost Always Wrong: Technology Rarely Destroys Jobs
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: It's not that simple
I can go in my backyard and "work", but that doesn't mean that I'm going to get paid for it. People only get paid for work when that work provides goods or services to someone else. And that someone else has to be able to afford to pay for those goods and services.
And if that someone else is also unemployed, then you have a problem.
That's the US problem in a nutshell. Companies automated or off shored high paying jobs. The people laid off then had to compete for low-paying jobs, driving some out of work, but most importantly giving them less money to spend themselves. When means less demand for goods and services, which means you need fewer people to meet that demand, so more people are laid off and have less money to spend, which reduces demand...
And around and around it goes.
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