Is America Going to Be the Flintstones or the Jetsons?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/are-we-going-be-flintstones-or-jetsons



America could be flying high with The Jetsons. But instead, we're stuck hoofing it with The Flintstones.

Back in 1966, TIME magazine published an article that looked ahead toward the future, and discussed what the rises of technology and automation would mean for working-class Americans.

From the time of George Washington until the presidency of Ronald Reagan, with a few blips for wars, as American workers became more productive, their wages went up or their working hours went down, or both.

We went from sixty-hour work weeks and poverty wages in the early 19th century, to the fifty-hour work week at the turn of the 20th century with better wages, to solidly middle-class wages and a forty-hour work week by the 1950's.

Whether it was the steam revolution of the early 19th century, the industrial revolution of the late 19th century, or the machine revolution of the early 20th century, as workers were able to make more things — and more profits for their companies — with fewer hours, they shared in the prosperity that was produced by their increased productivity.

[stillwaiting]

1. 99% = Flintstones; 1% = Jetsons; If the 99% let them get away with it. nt

[Javaman]

3. +1 nt

[liberal N proud]

2. The conservatives want to take this country back

They have not indicated how far back they want to take it. I guess the Victorian Age is their target.

That means wages, technology and everything else.

[justiceischeap]

4. They seem to be big fans of bringing child labor back

I don't know if it's because they think they can pay children less but with so many adults out of work, why they would want to open the labor market to more laborers is beyond me.

[bigwillq]

5. The Bunkers (nt)

[Brigid]

6. We're back to the nineteeth century.

60-hour days and poverty wages.