I even remember when 3 men operated a garbage truck, 1 driver & 2 rode on the back to empty the garbage bins into the truck. Now 1 driver does it all with the mechanised arm to grab & empty the garbage.
A timely comic. Only last week Carl I was watching a show about the history of farming in England. There was a bit that talked about how the mechanised threshing machines put thousands of farm labourers out of work across the country. Today we have self serve gas stations, automated self serve checkouts in supermarkets etc etc. Ant the unemployment rates continue to rise all in the name of progress & big dollar profits
I agree. The political parties, the megacorps and the megabanks are in cahoots and have been able to convince the very people that need unions that they are bad. The unions are the only friend of workers.
I will send you the pictures and the bio later tonight. Thank you so much for doing this. It’s very kind of you. So you live in Miami? I’m originally from Tampa, but I live in Georgia now.
Been here since I was 5 from New York mostly in North Miami. Went to Florida Southern in Lakeland and often to Tampa beaches and to go to wrestling 40 years ago ! I am now in Aventura, very NE corner of Miami DadeCountry. Look forward to see you stuff but remember save copy in case I lose it. No not my mind, the cartoons.
Sometimes a good old fashioned broom works better. The dogs track in leaves and I have to beg that stupid machine to pick them up..then it just spits them back out a few feet away. The broom isn’t nearly as picky.
The brooms represent people and the vacuum cleaner represents the machines that replace people. For example an office computer can do the work of at least 50 people(understatement) in the average office. Robots that assemble cars have put hundreds of thousands of people out of work.
Hmmmm perhaps Carl that is how the pen and paper feel about Computers not to mention snail mail, goodness a stamp how primitive but at least we didn’t have to download all the time, we just went to the Letter box, the only mail I get now is bills, ok I asked for them to be sent, there is enough of my mail on the Computer already.
Well you got me thinking Sir, Thank you, now lets hope they don’t replace that output with a new gadget.
The world is constantly changing. I know sooner learn a new trick (Iphone, computer, work-related skill) then it’s time to ditch that and upgrade my skill set. Your cartoon does capture that, Carl.
I have never owned a cell phone and don’t plan on getting one. There is nothing wrong with riding the horse to Ross’s Feed and Seed over in Haverstown to use the phone and put a letter in the mailbox they have across the street at Ned’s barber shop. Plus there is always a good poker game and a snort of whiskey(if you are so inclined) in the back room at Ned’s.
Automation is certainly poorly considered as a cause for US and world underemployment problems. The need to retrain the work force as we entered the information age in the 1950’s was well predicted and documented in the decades old The Third Wave by Toffler and in such books as Megatrends. So I hope others see that the cartoon goes beyond mere cute humor but is a commentary on economic conditions world wide.
47 responses to ““Casualties of automation” by Carl D’Agostino”
Tony McGurk
April 27th, 2013 at 09:19
I even remember when 3 men operated a garbage truck, 1 driver & 2 rode on the back to empty the garbage bins into the truck. Now 1 driver does it all with the mechanised arm to grab & empty the garbage.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 28th, 2013 at 05:27
My first job. With the city. I ran behinds those trucks one summer. My first job. One dollar an hour. I was 14 years old.
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Tony McGurk
April 27th, 2013 at 09:17
A timely comic. Only last week Carl I was watching a show about the history of farming in England. There was a bit that talked about how the mechanised threshing machines put thousands of farm labourers out of work across the country. Today we have self serve gas stations, automated self serve checkouts in supermarkets etc etc. Ant the unemployment rates continue to rise all in the name of progress & big dollar profits
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Carl D'Agostino
April 28th, 2013 at 05:28
On top of that the cities subcontract the work and save with less employees and the issuance of less benefits.
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Three Well Beings
April 23rd, 2013 at 12:30
I’m still very loyal to my brooms. Maybe I should help them unionize for job protection!
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 15:24
I agree. The political parties, the megacorps and the megabanks are in cahoots and have been able to convince the very people that need unions that they are bad. The unions are the only friend of workers.
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Matthew Curry
April 23rd, 2013 at 01:52
Hey Mr. D’Agostino. Thanks for the offer! I would love to. My e-mail address is oldkingcurry@gmail.com.
Thank you!
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 15:22
Good.
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Matthew Curry
April 23rd, 2013 at 15:46
I will send you the pictures and the bio later tonight. Thank you so much for doing this. It’s very kind of you. So you live in Miami? I’m originally from Tampa, but I live in Georgia now.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 15:53
Been here since I was 5 from New York mostly in North Miami. Went to Florida Southern in Lakeland and often to Tampa beaches and to go to wrestling 40 years ago ! I am now in Aventura, very NE corner of Miami DadeCountry. Look forward to see you stuff but remember save copy in case I lose it. No not my mind, the cartoons.
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Matthew Curry
April 24th, 2013 at 03:18
You were a wrestler? What was that like? (PS – I just sent you the Wednesday guest information. Don’t worry. I saved a copy of everything.)
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jannatwrites
April 23rd, 2013 at 01:41
Losing your job to a vacuum cleaner sucks 🙂
Sometimes a good old fashioned broom works better. The dogs track in leaves and I have to beg that stupid machine to pick them up..then it just spits them back out a few feet away. The broom isn’t nearly as picky.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 05:11
Oh, then you must get that new “Leaf Magnet” device.
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monicastangledweb
April 23rd, 2013 at 00:15
What they really need is to hope for a blackout. Then they’ll be back in business. 😉
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 05:11
New is not always better.
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Dilip
April 23rd, 2013 at 00:05
Good one Carl! Thanks.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 23rd, 2013 at 05:09
Glad you liked it.
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I HAVE A VOICE
April 22nd, 2013 at 20:45
you caught me! This is pure levity!
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 20:48
Buzzzzzzzzz. Voovoovaroom ! Onward march the machines.
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Carl
April 22nd, 2013 at 13:56
There are a lot of wicked witches who need a ride!
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:43
See my post Jan 21, 2013.
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Mark Petruska
April 22nd, 2013 at 12:24
“Sucker!”
Looks like they’re all hosed now.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:40
When we solve the dust and little kids tracking in mud problem, they will be out of work too. What goes around…..
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Craig N.
April 22nd, 2013 at 11:45
Who Ya Gonna Call – Dust Busters
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:39
Absolutely !
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poemsandponderings
April 22nd, 2013 at 11:22
Oh Carl, you forgot, or maybe in good taste, left out, the most obvious… “YOU SUCK”
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:38
Gotta keep my G rating.
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RoSy
April 22nd, 2013 at 11:08
I still prefer a broom for certain tasks. Especially for when I travel – hee hee hee 😀
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:38
Please don’t tell us you are a closet witch. But it’s OK on Halloween night.
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RoSy
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:49
😉
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Patti Kuche
April 22nd, 2013 at 10:48
That cheeky little minx, full of hot air . . . .
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:37
So is the office manager and most of the principals for whom I worked.
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Yoshiko
April 22nd, 2013 at 09:08
Carl, I don’t really get this
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:36
The brooms represent people and the vacuum cleaner represents the machines that replace people. For example an office computer can do the work of at least 50 people(understatement) in the average office. Robots that assemble cars have put hundreds of thousands of people out of work.
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Yoshiko
April 23rd, 2013 at 13:57
Oh I see. Thank you, Carl 🙂
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seeker
April 22nd, 2013 at 09:07
Oh-oh, I could use a broom. I’ll hire one. I don’t know how to operate that contraption.
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:35
The brooms will appreciate that.
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Freedomborn
April 22nd, 2013 at 08:55
Hmmmm perhaps Carl that is how the pen and paper feel about Computers not to mention snail mail, goodness a stamp how primitive but at least we didn’t have to download all the time, we just went to the Letter box, the only mail I get now is bills, ok I asked for them to be sent, there is enough of my mail on the Computer already.
Well you got me thinking Sir, Thank you, now lets hope they don’t replace that output with a new gadget.
Christian Love from us both – Anne.
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Freedomborn - Set Free Eternally
April 22nd, 2013 at 19:41
Thank you for joining up with us Carl, we appreciate this and hope you will be blessed Sir as you have Blessed others by your gift of humour.
Christian Love from both of us – Anne
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thunderbolt1959
April 22nd, 2013 at 08:29
Wait until the electricity is off and see what happens!! 🙂
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 08:33
That’s right. I have a goat in reserve if the lawn mower breaks. Will finish last 4 cartoons for book 3 tonight.
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thunderbolt1959
April 22nd, 2013 at 14:47
YAY!!!! 🙂
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earthriderjudyberman
April 22nd, 2013 at 07:47
The world is constantly changing. I know sooner learn a new trick (Iphone, computer, work-related skill) then it’s time to ditch that and upgrade my skill set. Your cartoon does capture that, Carl.
LikeLike
Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 07:53
I have never owned a cell phone and don’t plan on getting one. There is nothing wrong with riding the horse to Ross’s Feed and Seed over in Haverstown to use the phone and put a letter in the mailbox they have across the street at Ned’s barber shop. Plus there is always a good poker game and a snort of whiskey(if you are so inclined) in the back room at Ned’s.
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Ankur Mithal
April 22nd, 2013 at 07:14
Automation has brought about some sweeping changes
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Carl D'Agostino
April 22nd, 2013 at 07:42
Automation is certainly poorly considered as a cause for US and world underemployment problems. The need to retrain the work force as we entered the information age in the 1950’s was well predicted and documented in the decades old The Third Wave by Toffler and in such books as Megatrends. So I hope others see that the cartoon goes beyond mere cute humor but is a commentary on economic conditions world wide.
LikeLike
Hansi
April 22nd, 2013 at 08:43
I agree. The vacuum was probably made in China.
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