SNIP
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>On a further note, since you, Jim, and I are all in the computer field, how many jobs have we cut by producing software that does the work people use to do?

Real hard to do, Chris, but I'll only comment on your last question...
In my case the answer is technically quite a few. But in fact - people out on the bread lines - virtually zero. My work has, by and large, involved one of two general thrusts:
1) replacing clerical procedures with automated systems;
2) doing things that couldn't be done before.

It is only #1 where jobs were in any way jeopardized, and in those cases the typical 'disposition' of the displaced people was to either now staff other parts of the same department, where there was far more benefit OR move them to other departments, with training as necessary, to be productive there.

So lots of procedural clerical positions "disappeared" but the people got to do much more interesting and challenging work.
Now I admit that I don't know if people would be so wilfully shuffled within a company in today's business environment. They should, of course, because most companies have important work going only partially done because of the overhead of just getting the necessary work done. But companies are very fond today of bottom lines, so I guess many would simply take the saved overhead and apply it to the bottom line, foregoing deploying that overhead to more important work.

Things keep hitting me in the head but I don't see any birds. Wonder what it could be???????