Reich

What are “routine producers”? What will be their fate in the future?

Routine producers are the group of people Robert B. Reich describes as being in the boat that does nothing but sink rapidly. The boat that sinks rapidly in the boats on waves metaphor is the boat that signifies the loss of income and positions in their fields. Routine produces are those people that are production workers, working in factories or on lines to get the job done. They used to be paid quite well. Then companies got wind slowly, that immigrants or other foreigners in other countries would do the work for a fraction of the cost. Obviously, businesses wanted to make as much money as possible, which meant switching to the lower-waged people to do the job cheaper without losing the workmanship or efficiency in which the products are produced. The more time goes on the more companies switched to cheaper labor and increased their pocket size.

Routine producer’s fate does not look good. Machines began replacing their jobs. Machines doing the jobs are just as efficient and then they do not need as many actual workers to operate them and pay them. This lessens the cost of production even further. This also results in more jobs being lost. After technology advances, ten to one they do not go back to old, less productive ways as long as production continues to run smooth.

This relates to today as well. The big controversy at this time is having migrant workers come do the same jobs Americans are doing and get paid for less money. Immigrant workers came and took over the landscaping jobs here in America. It used to be a job nobody wanted. Once others came over to do it, suddenly Americans were upset saying they are stealing jobs. It’s a vicious cycle.

Reich, Robert B. “Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer.” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2006. pp403-415.