Abstract - Draft (and other things)

Background Information
Removed
Why is this question relevant?
 Conclusions

I'm writing on this topic because this is something that I find interesting. It also has less potential to offend people, so that's good (one reason I'm not writing on the effects of religion). This is something of a thought I had about a year ago, and is one of the things I've wanted to develop more fully.

The research question may be, "Will automation [technology] kill capitalism?"

Capitalism has been the successful economic system throughout history. It's the most basic system, as it rises naturally from interaction between humans. It's the base economic system. Alongside it, technology has evolved, too. It has advanced with time, and its growth helped capitalism, which then invested in it in turn. The two have been mutually beneficial for a long time, as technology allows capitalists to be more successful, and more success means more technological advancement. One of the products of this growth is automatic machinery, which was used to produce goods of all kinds. These machines replaced skilled craftsmen and workers, as they were faster, more precise, and didn't require regular pay. They were incredible investments for wealthy entrepreneurs. However, this new way to produce things upset the societal system that previously existed, and many people had to find new ways to make a living. Society has adapted to this change, but the change has been increasing and eventually machines may completely replace workers. Machines can now drive carts, move things, produce things, and regulate themselves. One of the few things they don't do is create themselves and repair themselves. When technology advances enough for them to do nearly everything humans do to make a living, there won't be enough work to be done by humans left (especially with the global population rising as it is). Similar problems exist right now. One of the commonly known reasons for the weak economy is lack of jobs. Many jobs have been taken by immigrants or people from other countries, as employers would prefer them to Americans; workers from other countries require less pay, which means more profit for the employers. While this isn't good for the workers of America, it creates jobs in other countries, and thus the total amount of jobs stays the same, and only America is hurt--the rest of the world isn't. However, if machines are used to do jobs, the total number of jobs in the world goes down, and the world is hurt. This makes it more harmful than simply outsourcing, as eventually almost no jobs will be left. Eventually, machines may be producing enough for everyone to live, but no one will be able to have anything because they can't work. This is where capitalism may fall apart. This study will examine the relationship between technological advances, particularly of automation, with capitalism and the possibility of technology eliminating the need for humans to do anything, and thus rendering capitalism an impossibility.