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Re: jimmy
No, jean, they're probably not. It's interesting to think what a tax collector would do if they lost their job! What would their resume look like? And yes, to think that farmer is a dying occupation is a scary thought . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on September 28, 2014 at 9:01 AM
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jimmy
farmer to me to was the scariest. but then some like tax collector made me smile, at least for a moment, i do not think taxes are going away.
posted by
jeansaw
on September 27, 2014 at 12:49 PM
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Re:
You're absolutely right, shamasehar. Hundreds of years ago, the brewmasters of Europe knew that their mixtures had to maintain a certain temperature in order for the yeast to work its magic. Too cool, and the yeast would not be affective. Too hot, and the yeast would die. The brewmasters used to stick their thumbs into the batches, and would go by 'feel' to know when everything was just right. No thermometers, no gadgets, just simple human touch! This gave birth to the phrase "rule of thumb." I believe farmers all around the globe have that same 'touch,' knowing when everything was just right. I don't think modern technology could ever replace that! I don't know what's going to happen over the next 20 years or so . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on September 26, 2014 at 6:02 AM
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Re:
That was something, TAPS, that I had always regretted: never sitting down with either pair of my grandparents ( all deceased now ) and asking them how they felt about the various changes they had witnessed over the years. Even at my relatively young age ( 54 ) I've seen some of these amazing transformations too! Now these items are only to be found in the Smithsonian! Bizarre to think about . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 26, 2014 at 5:52 AM
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I agree with you,who or what could replace a farmer???Agriculture is an important sector of our economy and farmers instinctively know so much about the soil,the weather,crops etc.You could modernize farming but the farmer's Midas touch counts.
posted by
shamasehar
on September 26, 2014 at 3:36 AM
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When I got my first job, it involved a clackity typewriter, lots of carbon paper and onionskin copies and then a teletype machine. They have all gone by the wayside. My mom and dad went from horse and buggy to man-on-the-moon days. It has been interesting.
posted by
TAPS.
on September 25, 2014 at 10:16 PM
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Re: JimmyA
I believe it, Sir Wiley. There's probably nothing worse than being in an established career or field for years and years and years until -wham!- someone pulls the rug out from under you and forces you to literally start over again! It's been tough for a lot of people, my wife and I included. But, you learn to adapt, and do what you have to do! It will be very interesting indeed to see what happens over the next ten years or so . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 7:11 AM
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Re:
You're probably right, FSI. Not everyone can be computer and/or tech savvy, and have complete job security in this ever-changing world. People do a lot of on-line banking, but they also like to go to their local branches, so perhaps bank teller is safe . . . for now. And there's nothing worse than seeing a strip mall or a parking lot where a beautiful farm once stood. There are parts of New Jersey in that same boat. What a shame . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 7:08 AM
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Re:
Believe it or not, C C T, our two country's 'systems' are not all that different. Yes, we are heavily taxed to death too, and they never seem to go down, only up. No one ever looks 'big' because, even if you do 'pay up,' there will somehow always be more to pay! But something tells me that Washington and Westminster probably have another thing in common: squandering some of that collected revenue! That's a topic for another day . . . 
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 7:05 AM
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Re:
That's true, Bill. We cannot simply do without any of these occupations, but apparently their necessity is fading more and more. Our future looks bleak indeed . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 6:58 AM
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Re: Jimmy
You're quite right, Naut, although it's difficult to imagine what the educational system would look like in trying to actually prepare these kids for an ever-changing landscape as far as various occupations are concerned! And don't even get me started on the discussion of work ethic, another commodity that seems to be slowly fading away. That's a topic of discussion for another day perhaps . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 6:57 AM
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Re:
In a way, Kabu, it's very difficult to imagine 'our' world without these particular occupations. According to those reports, these jobs aren't necessarily 'disappearing' as much as they're simply 'declining.' We still have several of those small farms here in New Jersey, but they seem barely large enough to be 'self-sufficient' anymore. Who knows what the future will actually bring . . .
posted by
JimmyA
on September 25, 2014 at 6:53 AM
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JimmyA
Scary is right, my printing trade changed like overnight, so at over 50 I had to learn a lot of new technology and life was tough.
posted by
WileyJohn
on September 24, 2014 at 9:19 PM
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None of the jobs on the list surprised me. What did surprise was that bank teller was not on the list.
It is a shame that farmers are on the decline. On one of the ways I can commute to work, I have seen a few farms give way to developments.
It is amazing how fast change is occurring. I don't think that we are going to keep pace with it. That is why I think so many people are unemployed and underemployed.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on September 24, 2014 at 12:20 PM
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Well Jimmy I would have to query the Tax collector. Perhaps you all pay up and look big over there. It seems we are going to be taxed more instead of less and that will definitely mean more tax collectors even if it is automated.The post delivery is a bad omen but they just charge more here until it is profitable.
posted by
C_C_T
on September 24, 2014 at 12:08 PM
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Less, but in demand nonetheless Jimmy.
posted by
BC-A
on September 24, 2014 at 9:59 AM
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Jimmy
Our mailman is going to be 'phased out' in favor of a 'community box'! The only family member happy about that will be Bennie, who hates the guy's daily incursion into his territory...
But my main concern is that the schools don't seem to be adjusting fast enough to these changes - many kids are simply not being prepared for the new demands of the work world (quite apart from the appalling erosion of the 'work ethic'...) 
posted by
Nautikos
on September 24, 2014 at 8:54 AM
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Being a Farmers daughter that one upset me but then where I grew up there is still farming but no small farms. Big co-ops come through with huge machinary and sow and reap very quickly no more fences no more farmers standing talking next to their trucks. No more dogs barking or small schools.
The flight attendant surprised me too but then so many flights don't serve food anymore. Of course they still work really hard on the Vancouver / Sydney flights.
posted by
Kabu
on September 24, 2014 at 8:32 AM
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