Laborers get killed by technology, progress and capitalism.
I do personal injury for a living and there are a lot of accidents at these places and I can see first hand the increases in efficiency in almost any manufacturing job. This is an exaggeration but what took 100 people to do in the 40s took 50 people to do in the 70s and 5 people to do today. Those 5 people get compensated more than the people before them because they are more skilled and do more work, but that doesn't account for the lost of the 95 unskilled jobs. This is not just limited to manufacturing either, increased productivity is evident in most fields. A lot of people are working harder than people did 10 years ago and making slightly more money. But at the cost of less jobs overall (which is great for business, not so great for employees).
It has been evident for a long time that the unskilled are getting fucked by progress and globalization. The real answer is that we probably have to support these people with our taxes so they don't turn to crime or worse, but that is political suicide to say that in America. Instead we got a demagogue populist who promised us racist fairy tales. And to the horror of educated Americans everywhere this country bought it and asked for seconds.
I am officially replacing God Bless America to You Fucked up America. Now eat your shit sandwich and tell me you like it.
