Martin Ford’s latest book on automation, “Rise of the Robots,” foresees that robots (and other machines) will rapidly be taking over increasing numbers of American jobs at all levels.

From self-driving trucks to package-delivering drones, autonomous machines will be able to perform ever more highly sophisticated tasks of which only humans were previously capable.

These robots will be able to produce, coordinate, and manage existing machines and devices which people now organize and operate.

Unfortunately, since robots don’t buy consumer goods, they won’t make up for workers’ lost purchasing power, thus threatening otherwise sound economies with continual decline.

Such decline has already been occurring over the last 30 years—as evidenced by America’s increased worker productivity being rewarded with decreasing wages and benefits.

Even once-thriving businesses such as Circuit City, Borders, and Blockbuster have been unable to keep up with more—automated firms such as Amazon and Netflix.

In addition, our labor market is undermined both by outsourcing jobs abroad and by forthcoming programs such as immigration reform and the Pacific trade pact—which propose to hire increasing numbers of “skilled” workers from abroad.

So, with U.S. unemployment still a pervasive problem, how will we be able to provide meaningful jobs for a population of 318 million that increases by another million every year?

Firms could share future profits from automation

Author Martin Ford recognizes that humans can’t master new skills fast enough to keep up with robots, so he proposes that the government provide a guaranteed income to everyone without a job.

But the individuals who control Wall Street and investor-funded corporations consistently demand lower taxes. If automation reduces consumer spending, that will further discourage them from supporting added welfare-type payments.

Significantly, these corporations own the machines (including robots) that far outproduce humans, work 24 hours a day, and never go on vacation.

Automation has been one of the causes of the widening gap across income levels. Now, its growth could lead to perpetual, massive unemployment as well.

Or, these advanced systems could enable us to produce increased quantities of goods and services that Americans across the nation could afford to purchase.

However, that would require our replacing our winner-take-all economic system with one based on cooperation – employing advanced technology to maximize economic and social benefits.

1) Firms could use part of the added profits from technology to discount extensively their products for their employees. These firms could cooperate with companies offering other goods and services to provide a broad range of discounted products for their employees.

This would increase the nation’s purchasing power and improve employee share of wealth, while budgeted as a sales promotion like other discounts.

2) Companies could award shares of their stock to their full-time employees, making them on-going partners in the firm, rather than human tools to be used temporarily and then discarded.

This arrangement would be similar to the awarding of stock to executives. Their awards are said to be additional compensation, but considering executives’ multi-million dollar salaries, they appear to be a perq a company could grant to others.

3) Our government could end all programs that give U.S. jobs to foreign workers, thus reducing domestic unemployment.

To accomplish this, political parties would need to find common ground instead of pursuing ideological extremes. And companies would need to value overall economic prosperity based on the long run.

FCC takes step toward blocking robocalls

One thing on which most Americans agree: robocalls to our phones should be completely blocked so that we are not plagued by them around the clock.

Last week, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed authorizing phone companies to use technology to block most robocalls.

This is a commendable beginning. Unfortunately, telemarketers seem to be able to outmaneuver the existing technology and safeguards.

Legally, AT&T and Verizon are required to forward any call that reaches their networks. Congress would have to act to allow carriers to block questionable phone calls.

Telemarketers can also skirt the Caller ID Act that prohibits bogus phone numbers (spoofing) because courts have permitted “non-harmful” spoofing, i.e., selling by phone. Discouraging!

Howard Hurlbut is an emeritus professor of the University of Redlands and a resident of Redlands.