The Forever Recession
Thus, middle class jobs that existed because companies had no choice are now gone.
Protectionism isn’t going to fix this problem. Neither is stimulus of old factories or yelling in frustration and anger. No, the only useful response is to view this as an opportunity. To poorly paraphrase Clay Shirky, every revolution destroys the last thing before it turns a profit on a new thing.
The networked revolution is creating huge profits, significant opportunities and a lot of change. What it’s not doing is providing millions of brain-dead, corner office, follow-the-manual middle class jobs. And it’s not going to.
Fast, smart and flexible are embraced by the network. Linchpin behavior. People and companies we can’t live without (because if I can live without you, I’m sure going to try if the alternative is to save money).
The sad irony is that everything we do to prop up the last economy (more obedience, more compliance, cheaper yet average) gets in the way of profiting from this one.
The message is clear: you can’t be average, your job can’t be something you come in and punch the clock any more. If you do, you’ll be constantly searching for a job. You have to be extraordinary to be stable in your career. Gone are the days of working for a manufacturing company for 40 years and retiring with a fat pension at 60.
This is a good thing: it just takes time to readjust, and that’s why unemployment and poverty are up today. Humans are resilient though, and we will adapt. People will learn creative thinking and flexibility.
