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Could AI create a ‘permanent underclass’? (www.ft.com)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] 54 points 2 months ago (13 children)

There already is a permanent underclass. Do poor people by and large claw their way out? No.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 months ago (3 children)

    The point is a complete and utter removal of social mobility

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (7 children)

    Yes, yes they do. My parents couldn't afford coffee when I was born. My dad was able to buy a $600K home in the early 2000s that's worth double today.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    That's the reason for the qualifier "by and large." Yes, it is possible, but not equally achievable for all people in poverty be it due to individual circumstance or lack of personal ability. I'm quite happy for your parents and I'm sure they must have worked hard to find success. But the system would not allow for the underclass as a whole to find a way out of poverty at the same time. The only way that can happen is to change the system.

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  • [–] -3 points 2 months ago* (3 children)

    As a guy who clawed my way out of poverty, I can warn you: People who state those opinions on the Internet almost never want to hear about a success story — even if it could help others. (Not that downvotes even matter though)

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    You have it wrong, people don't despire nor are envious of your success.

    People are just aware of this kind of "rags to riches (or just middle class)" transition based on hard work is the exception, not the rule. Countless people work as hard as you did, maybe more, and yet will see almost no improvement in their socioeconomic class.

    More importantly this "success story" is so often used by capitalism and neoliberal supporters as "evidence" that "system works" and all you need to do is work hard. Which is, frankly put, just propaganda when we can all see that the main statistical factor for becoming rich is just how rich your parents already were.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago

    I didn't have a rich family. My parents were poor for my entire childhood, and remained poor until their deaths. All other relatives are poor too (very small family). I'm not rich by any means; just financially comfortable.

    Most success stories I've heard from people who brought themselves out of poverty, had no political "odor" to them at all. Having enough spare time to think about politics seems like a bit of a luxury when you're too busy trying to survive while also working towards carefully planned goals. In fact, if such a success story smells political even a little bit, and it's on the Internet, then yeah, it's probably not to be trusted.

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