Self-driving disaster

The Bloomberg View editorial, (Sept. 28) on self-driving trucks, failed to tell the whole story. Robotic trucks will probably be on our roadways in three to five years. There are 13 million truck drivers in the United States. Potentially five to eight million medium- and long-haul truck drivers could lose their jobs and $750 billion of gross taxable income could be subtracted from our national economy.

Robotic distribution of goods is only the tip of the hi-tech iceberg. For the last eight years, manufacturing in the United States has had steady growth while employment in manufacturing has essentially remained flat. Online sales of merchandise is already squeezing our brick and mortar merchants, creating a lingering threat to commercial landlords and the local tax base. Artificial intelligence will soon arrive and alter professional occupations.

Elected officials and constituents need to drop the curtain on our political circus and prepare or the impact of our progress. Like climate change, the socioeconomic and financial storm will be man-made and man will be at its mercy.

Rich Magney

Spokane