| Someone has to work the cash registers. You sure about that? I've seen a lot of supermarkets going self-checkout lately. Sure, it's not out-sourcing in the usual sense; but it is replacing workers with something cheaper (equipment which was probably manufactured in another country). Someone has to update our nation's crumbling infrastructure. True, but the number of workers you need depends on the construction techniques you use. If manpower is expensive, you buy prefabricated components and only do the final assembly on site. Someone has to change the IV bags and push around the stretchers. True, but technology and a willingness to spend more on equipment can reduce the number of people you need to do this. (e.g., "smart" IV bags which alert staff when they need to be changed, rather than having nurses walk around checking the bags.) Someone has to teach future generations about math and science and history and puberty. Khan Academy. Electricians and plumbers, they're definitely going to be in demand. True, but the more expensive they are, the greater the pressure will be to create hot water heaters which don't need to be replaced every five years. Reports of the death of the American blue collar job are greatly exaggerated. There are a lot of job categories which will never be eliminated entirely, sure -- but most of them can still be dramatically downsized via the application of technology and sufficient quantities of money. Nobody is so essential to the continuation of civilization that they can set their own wages. There's always going to be a point where people will say "you know, we've got a cheaper option". |
Not infrastructure, but that's exactly what Boeing has done for years, assemble airplanes out of prefabbed subassemblies.
When Boeing gets a contract to sell planes to, say, China or Japan, part of the deal is often that the subassemblies (wings, body sections, whatever) are made in that country, shipped to the US and assembled by Boeing.
Airplanes are a more controlled and regular construction environment than highways, but I don't see why it won't become more common. Residential and commercial buildings too, I suppose. Suburban houses are already cookie cutter these days.