Video: Sign the petition to ban job-killing ATM machines
posted at 6:32 pm on June 17, 2011 by Allahpundit
Three minutes of silly fun from MRC TV saluting The One’s goofiest soundbite of the week. Turns out goofiness plays pretty well politically these days:
We had a lot of people who thought it made sense to get rid of cash machines and for a variety of reasons.
Some didn’t like the usage fees and concluded that the best way to get rid of the hassle was to get rid of ATM’s altogether.
Other’s wanted to see America return to a simpler time when we all got our money from our friendly neighborhood banker who knew your name, smiled at you and gave little Billy a lollipop after which you could hop in your horse drawn carriage and return to your candle lit home.
One woman even said that ATM machines were bad for the environment.
Good point. The more ATMs we can eliminate, the more “green jobs” we can create by hiring bank tellers. I watched this with some trepidation, anxious and depressed by the possibility that they might not encounter a single person who sees this idiocy for the idiocy that it is. But no, fear not. There’s still some sense out there. Watch out for the older lady in the hat, in particular. “Do you know how that stupid that sounds?”
Blowback
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LOL
txmomof6 on June 17, 2011 at 6:37 PM
$50 says that old lady with the hat voted for Barry.
clement on June 17, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Raaaaacist!
malclave on June 17, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Eco-friendly too, bonus!!!
txmomof6 on June 17, 2011 at 6:38 PM
Haters
Roy Rogers on June 17, 2011 at 6:38 PM
As Hayek asked about the Panama Canal, if it’s about jobs, instead of shovels why not use spoons?
Instead of allowing people the option to to pay for the convenience, put paid to the service altogether. Brilliant.
MJBrutus on June 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM
In truth, though, I remember when self-checkouts began appearing in grocery stores, some people voiced opposition to them because they meant more unemployed former-cashiers. But in truth, if your goal is merely to increase employment, inefficiency may be a virtue. If your goal is to improve the average quality of life, it definitely isn’t.
David Shane on June 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Brotheres and Sisters,it is time,for the
machines to be put paid to pasture!
Canadian SEIU!
(SNARK)
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM
I wonder if Terryannonline will sign?
CW on June 17, 2011 at 6:40 PM
I don’t mind ATMs and enjoy the convenience those provide but when a bank or any other business pretending to legitimate has a moronic robot to answer the telephone that invariably gets me hoping that blood doesn’t shoot out of my ears before blood pressure medication can be prescribed.
Your call is very important to us….If our machine answering your phone call is making you postal press two….
viking01 on June 17, 2011 at 6:40 PM
Oops,D*mn those Facts!
Mr Obama clearly picked a poor example. It’s worth noting that the advent of the ATM also created demand for ATM maintenance workers. According to the BLS, there were 152,900 “computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers” in 2008.
=====================
American politics
Democracy in America
=====================
Technology and unemployment
Are ATMs stealing jobs?
Jun 15th 2011,IOWA CITY
************************
IN an interview on NBC News, Barack Obama used the example of ubiquitous automatic teller machines to illustrate how technological progress is allegedly impeding job creation:
———————————————————-
There are some structural issues with our economy where a lot of businesses have learned to become much more efficient with a lot fewer workers. You see it when you go to a bank and you use an ATM, you don’t go to a bank teller, or you go to the airport and you’re using a kiosk instead of checking in at the gate.
————————————
This got right-of-center bloggers linking gleefully to Bastiat and Hazlitt’s classic debunkings of the hoary fallacy that machines create unemployment, and started a minor Twitter meme mocking the idea that ATMs are taking our jobs. As it happens, theory and reality agree in this case. ATMs have not in fact displaced bank tellers. According to this 2004 Charles Fishman article in Fast Company:
——–
At the dawn of the self-service banking age in 1985, for example, the United States had 60,000 automated teller machines and 485,000 bank tellers. In 2002, the United States had 352,000 ATMs—and 527,000 bank tellers. ATMs notwithstanding, banks do a lot more than they used to and have a lot more branches than they used to.
More recently, the Bureau of Labour Statistics reports there were 600,500 bank tellers in 2008, and the BLS projects this number will grow to 638,000 by 2018. Mr Obama clearly picked a poor example. It’s worth noting that the advent of the ATM also created demand for ATM maintenance workers. According to the BLS, there were 152,900 “computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers” in 2008. I’m not sure how many of these are in the ATM repair biz, but the BLS expects a mild decline in this line of work due to increasingly reliable machines and declining replacement costs. Evidently, the relationship between technological advance and employment is complicated.
(More…….)
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/
canopfor on June 16, 2011 at 4:53 AM
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 6:42 PM
Not a bad first effort, but your syntax is off. You see, “put paid to” is synonymous with “put to pasture.”
MJBrutus on June 17, 2011 at 6:43 PM
Funny that states like New Jersey don’t allow self serve gas. Hey they are saving jobs.
CW on June 17, 2011 at 6:44 PM
Must be I am a Luddite, never used one, never had a debit card either. I do love my I-Pad though.
fourdeucer on June 17, 2011 at 6:44 PM
So some people don’t like ATM usage fees?
Then don’t use the damn ATM, morons!
catmman on June 17, 2011 at 6:44 PM
viking01 – seriously check this out:
http://www.dialahuman.com/
CW on June 17, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Hilarious … and yet so sad.
Tony737 on June 17, 2011 at 6:46 PM
******************** Nonsensical *************************
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 6:46 PM
I love ATMs. Unemployment be darned. It is so cool when you depostit you get the money from another bank immediately! And a cute little pic of your check.
Luddites!
Democrats are so anti progress.
Ironic.
petunia on June 17, 2011 at 6:47 PM
***********Shovel Ready********************************
Er,
Rear Wallet Ready,er sumpin like dat!
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Did you know that it’s against the law to pump your own gas in Oregon?
I found out the hard way on a trip when I tried to pump my own for a rental I was driving. Guy came running up screaming at me and treated me like I was trying to steal the gas or something. He calmed down only a bit after I told him I was from MA and had no idea they had such a ridiculous law in Oregon.
Rod on June 17, 2011 at 6:48 PM
So having heard so much on this site and others about “Atlas Shrugged” and wanting to see the movie, I decided to download the book and began reading it. I’m a slow reader and quite busy at work, but I am simply amazed at how current history is following this book. It really is stunning. The technology is different, since it was written 60 years ago, but the logical conclusion of socialism and progressivism is exactly right as we are witness to Obama’s presidency.
drocity on June 17, 2011 at 6:50 PM
New Jersey as well.
They don’t trust you with such a flammable liquid. As you know the rest of the states have terrible problems with stations blowing up left and right. I contend most of those are simply from people using their cell phones./
CW on June 17, 2011 at 6:53 PM
I believe I’ve used that website before. Thanks.
I have found that sometimes just hitting zero several times can fool some of the phone robots into “thinking” there’s a problem with the automation and will switch over to an actual life form.
viking01 on June 17, 2011 at 6:54 PM
When the CEO of Amway went to China with Bush 41 the Chinese were using shovels, wheelbarrows and hand held compacters to lay the asphalt for the parking lot. I also noticed no one complained about signing the petition with a modern writing instrument instead of a quill.
fourdeucer on June 17, 2011 at 6:57 PM
That and the pound button.
CW on June 17, 2011 at 7:00 PM
No one is pointing out how many jobs would be lost if ATM machines were banned… the people who assemble the machines, software developer, ATM installer, the person who removes deposits and reloads money, and I’m sure there are others.
behiker on June 17, 2011 at 7:03 PM
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 6:39 PM
==============================
Not a bad first effort, but your syntax is off. You see, “put paid to” is synonymous with “put to pasture.”
MJBrutus on June 17, 2011 at 6:43 PM
MJBrutus:I’ll admit,I wasn’t crazy about English class!!
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 7:06 PM
I remember when the automatic check outs were installed in my local grocery store…
… It was right after the cashiers went out on strike.
Seven Percent Solution on June 17, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Democrats: The neo-Luddites. Once again, they demonstrate their utter ignorance in economics.
NNtrancer on June 17, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Does anyone stay up at night and wonder how Obama got elected…just watch these videos.
right2bright on June 17, 2011 at 7:11 PM
These things make me depressed.
The number of STUPID people is on the rise and getting higher.
ug…
katy on June 17, 2011 at 7:12 PM
If ATMs are job killers why not TOTUS? Lets put some out of work SAG members to work holding cue cards for the Obama!
shov74 on June 17, 2011 at 7:16 PM
The “M” in ATM stands for “machine”. The phrase “ATM machine” is therefore saying “Automated Teller Machine machine”. Only slightly worse than attempting to apply the phrase “put paid to” within every comment.
Yes, it is very depressing to see that the progressives have been so successful at dumbing down the populace. No training in conceptual analysis or rhetorical logic makes Johnny a sucker for a petition.
Freelancer on June 17, 2011 at 7:22 PM
ATM ate my card once. Get rid of ‘em all!
infidel4life on June 17, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Reminds me of this:
Boulder’s Mighty Fudge Studios battles Pearl Street ‘clipboard zombies’
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_18294301
pedestrian on June 17, 2011 at 7:24 PM
That happened out here in CA too.
I was never unable to understand how a low level checkout job trumped an electronic manufacturing and maintenance job, but, whatever.
I loved using them in the beginning because there was never a line (since people refused to use them in order to save someone’s job).
Now, there’s usually a bit of a line, but, it’s not too long.
JadeNYU on June 17, 2011 at 7:27 PM
The majority of the stupid is invincible, and will be with us always.
– Albert Einstein
warbaby on June 17, 2011 at 7:37 PM
One woman even said that ATM machines were bad for the environment.
docflash on June 17, 2011 at 7:40 PM
If ATMs are outlawed then they should also remove Point-of-Sale credit/debit card devices in the checkout lines. So, you’ll have to hand your card to a cashier who will run it through one of those manual machines with the carbon paper receipt.
Progress!
Left Coast Right Mind on June 17, 2011 at 7:43 PM
She’d sign her own death warrent if someone explained it the right way.
katy the mean old lady on June 17, 2011 at 7:48 PM
Piece out.
John the Libertarian on June 17, 2011 at 7:51 PM
The un-Peggy Joseph.
Buy Danish on June 17, 2011 at 7:53 PM
oh ffs.
Tim_CA on June 17, 2011 at 7:53 PM
I wonder if Terryannonline will sign?
CW on June 17, 2011 at 6:40 PM
She’d sign her own death warrent if someone explained it the right way.
katy the mean old lady on June 17, 2011 at 7:48 PM
katy the mean old lady:HaHa—:)
==================================
Monty Python-Bring out your dead!
*********************************
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs
canopfor on June 17, 2011 at 7:53 PM
*SNORT*
darwin-t on June 17, 2011 at 7:57 PM
It is ironic that the far left, which has always claimed to be the most progressive political movement, has become the most reactionary force in the U.S.
I am a graduate of the recently-closed Antioch College, probably the most left-wing learning institution of higher learning in the U.S. It is now reopening, but the “Antioch College Action Network,” which is supposed to be a forum for discussing what is happening and oganizing to influence events, has been totally opposed to every step the new administration has taken to reopen, claiming the purity of the old college is being destroyed by Antioch’s “enemies.”
“ACAN” has been taken over by extreme leftists, even by old Antioch standardss. Its last fight has been against proposed innovations in the library that involve putting journals on line, etc. Of course, this has been done in libraries everywhere to reduce costs and make education more affordable to working class people that the ACAN participants claim to champion.
Ironically, the library almost decayed almost into unusability during the last years of the “old Antioch” because it was not a priority for the administration. None of these now “freaking out” about new technology complained then, although to me it was the most disturbing sign that Antioch had collapsed academically from its very high academic standards when I attended there.
One final observation: the main impact of technology is not the overall loss of jobs, but the replacement of boring, dangerous, alienating and low paying low-skilled jobs by more interesting, safe, and better paying high-skilled jobs. Studies indicate the net impact of new technology is slightly more new jobs created than old jobs destroyed. Therefore, the left should embrace technological change. On a practical level, however, this would cause the loss of the “proletariat” which the left thinks it can control and make decisions for.
ptolemy on June 17, 2011 at 7:57 PM
“The banks have our money, we need our money.”
W…T…F…?
WitchDoctor on June 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Oregon has outlawed pumping your own gas.
No self service station anywhere!
They do allow assisted suicide.
.
Oregon where your are too stupid to pump your own gas but you can choose to kill yourself.
The Rock on June 17, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Not so far from the truth, unfortunately. Here in Michigan, they just did away with a law that every piece of merchandise needed to have a price on it – citing it’s not longer necessary with scanners and all that. One of the main arguments against repealing the law was that all those store clerks would lose jobs.
Only with liberals would they try to stifle innovation and efficiency to create useless jobs just so people get a paycheck – they do it all the time with unions and gov’t jobs…
miConsevative on June 17, 2011 at 8:17 PM
The progs chose ‘progressive’ because progress sounds good, but the inside joke is that it means ‘progress towards a socialist workers’ paradise’.
slickwillie2001 on June 17, 2011 at 8:23 PM
I remember when they passed that law back at least 30 years ago. Coming back to MI a few years ago, I found the price stickers on the cans and stuff ANNOYING. The only reason we got rid of that law is because of the “geek” who won the governor race this year. That was one of his campaign issues of promising to get dumb laws off the back of business.
I am partial to the 2 or 3 states that still make it mandatory to have full service gas. I love it. Nothing worse than having to get out of the car when it is seventy million degrees below freezing and the wind is blowing, ice and slush is all over the gas pump area, and then pumping in 23+ gallons of gas into my SUV. Brrrr. And when I lived in the HOT states, nothing worse than pumping gas at 100+ degrees when you can burn your hands on the hot metal of the pump, gas cover, fenders, whatever. OWIE!!!
But mess with my ATM machine? Now thems are fightin’ words. The libs will take my ATM machines over my cold, dead body!!!! I used to HATE to have to run to the bank to get case, or pay the stupid store extra money for cash back from writing a check for groceries. That sucked big time.
Ahh, the measures of progress in our daily lives.
What the libs just don’t get is efficiency in the economy leads to overall greater wealth in the economic pie. Libs think the pie size stays static, and don’t realize it is a dynamic number. Libs are just so economically stupid.
karenhasfreedom on June 17, 2011 at 8:26 PM
According to the President’s logic, I’m a job killing mofo.
Why? I’m in IT professional who believes in using technology to make business processes more efficient. Coupled with the fact that I work for a bank and have helped setup ATM machines.
I’m a bad bad man :(
Lay-Z on June 17, 2011 at 8:45 PM
Obama is a moron.
I want to see his school records
Roy Rogers on June 17, 2011 at 8:51 PM
I thought one of the ladies who signed WAS an ATM machine….
Sherman1864 on June 17, 2011 at 9:44 PM
Like people who work in restaurants, stores as people can’t get to their bank by the end of the work day to get cash to do stuff at night!
This list could be huge.
DSchoen on June 17, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Well yes, but it only cost $12.00 to register your car. (in 2002)
DSchoen on June 17, 2011 at 9:49 PM
OMG!
How can you possibly be worried ATMs when the EVIL solvent DHMO is unregulated killing thousands Of Americans every year!
Chemical Industry
DHMO is used as an industrial solvent because of its ability to dissolve a wide variety of substances. It is odorless and tasteless
Ban DHMO now!
It is used as an industrial solvent and coolant, and in the production of pesticides. It is also a major component of acid rain. DHMO is even used in the
DHMO is a solvent widely u …
DHMO is a solvent widely used in industries and is found at almost every site contaminated with industrial pollution.
DHMO
It is prolifically used as an industrial solvent and legally dumped it into the environment. Amongst other uses, DHMO is used in animal research, …
Toxic Truth – Less Wrong
Apr 11, 2009 … “[DHMO] has been a part of nature longer than we have; what gives us the … It’s also used as a solvent during the synthesis of cocaine, …
dhmo | Tumblr
Despite the dangers, DHMO is often used as an industrial solvent, as a fire retardant, in nuclear power plants and (can you believe this) in certain food …
My god! An industrial solvent used in nuclear power plants is also allowed to be used in the food industries!
Yes our government allows DHMO to be used by “Corporate farmers”, “Sea food canneries” even Burger King is allowed to use DHMO!
Piece out people!
DSchoen on June 17, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Never used an ATM—Get cash from local bank/with lolpop.
Never cheated on my wife of 45 years.
Recycle trash and get lolpop at recycle center.
Spent 24 years in the Army and served in three wars.
Enlisted in army in 1965 and sereved in Vietnam.
Never had sexual relations, other then with my wife and never outside of marriage.
Never did drugs, ever.
Buy America when ever I can. By most food at farmer co-ops.
Post my American Flag every day.
This must make me the best candidate for POTUS if drafted I will serve. OR I’m the most boring man in the world.
jpcpt03 on June 17, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Yeah, no sales tax and an income tax kicker, too.
WELCOME TO OREGON
we hope you will enjoy visit
Christien on June 17, 2011 at 10:55 PM
s/b your visit
Christien on June 17, 2011 at 10:55 PM
Would be funny to sign their petition with names like “Ima Nidjit” and “Bea A. Loser”. |-]
Uncle Sams Nephew on June 17, 2011 at 11:01 PM
One out of three certainly isn’t a good record in this situation. A grade of 33% in any school worth a hoot would be an “F-”.
Uncle Sams Nephew on June 17, 2011 at 11:08 PM
drocity
When you’re done with Atlas Shrugged, give Animal Farm a read.
Rogue Traveler on June 18, 2011 at 1:16 AM
ATVs, Not ATMs!!
leftnomore on June 18, 2011 at 2:35 AM
conservatives shouldn’t try to be funny. There was never and there will never be a funny conservative.
iggya on June 18, 2011 at 9:51 AM
Wondered if anyone would bring this up. Was just about to post it myself. Well done.
cheeflo on June 18, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Get rid of cars so that carriage drivers will have jobs!
Get rid of light bulbs so that candle makes will have jobs!
Get rid of regrigerators so that ice salesmen will have jobs!
How about get rid of democrats so that Americans will have jobs.
xrayiiis on June 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
“We don’t want to see you, we don’t want to talk to you, just shut up, push the number you want from the recorded menu, talk to the nice Filipino if you really, really, really have a problem…oh, and give us your money.”
Business is about time and money. The hell with people.
“Customer service” is little more than a euphemism in most cases.
Dr. ZhivBlago on June 18, 2011 at 12:10 PM
ATMs… Doing the job that no American wants to… Like handing out cash at 2am… at three different locations within a mile of my house… to anybody with a need, a pin number, and an available balance.
-
Remind me… Who use to do that job?
-
RalphyBoy on June 18, 2011 at 1:12 PM
I just looked up the unemployment figures by state, and NJ’s percentage clocked in as the 14th highest in the nation. People of NJ, you need to drive more — so you use more gasoline, which in turn will lead to more employment for gas jockeys.
CJ on June 18, 2011 at 3:23 PM
I never have used an ATM machine.
Ever since I got my first credit card in the mid ’60′s, I’ve never felt the need to actually carry cash (if cash was the only way to prove you’re not a vagrant, I could have been picked up at any time in the last 40 years)…so I have no use for an ATM machine.
Debit cards? Why would anyone want a credit-card-like-thing with no benefits, little or no recourse against fraud, and high fees??? I’ve never had one of these either.
But if you really want to increase employment by banning automation, why pick on ATM’s?? How about banning traffic lights??? One newly-hired full-time cop per intersection has GOT to make a difference…
(…and we can all out-Luddite Obama together!!!)
landlines on June 18, 2011 at 3:46 PM