>Warning of job loss....
>http://money.cnn.com/video/news/2014/09/03/fast-food-protests-working-minimum-wage.cnnmoney?iid=EL
>
>It's beginning to happen.......Wendy's today....other major fast food companies to follow.
>http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/12/wendys-expand-self-service-kiosks-amid-wage-hikes/
>
>..
>Jobs that taught teenage kids how to become responsible and learned what it's like to go through the hiring procedure and hold a job are disappearing.
>Too bad. But they can still mow lawns. Right?
>.
>Hope kids today know how to build, maintain, fix or code something when they're looking for work in the future.

Many (30+) years ago, there was a rule of thumb that if a machine could create an extra $20 per hour of revenue, or reduce existing costs by $20 per hour, it was worth building, operating and maintaining it.

The cost of automation keeps dropping, with machinery getting less expensive, and keeps getting more capable (with a big boost from computerization) so it's less expensive for them to add real value. Hard-nosed business operators (is there really any other kind?) look at the curves of declining automation costs, and increasing labour costs. When and if they cross, then hmm...