12-22-2009, 07:06 PM
Hoofhurr Wrote:I'm really curious about this ratio. What fraction of the population does it take to adequately service the needs of the whole population? Or put a different way, one american citizen can keep how many other citizens fed, housed, and safe?
Actually. I'd love to see how many jobs are required to fill each of the the levels on Maslow's Pyramid. The unemployment probably came from somewhere near the top of the pyramid.
I attribute the bottom rung to healthcare industry, food industry, and real estate. The second rung to fire, police, military. The third rung to government, local and federal, and probably communication services.
![[Image: Maslows-needs-Pyramid.jpg]](http://www.ruralhealth.utas.edu.au/comm-lead/images/Maslows-needs-Pyramid.jpg)
I can offer you one data point I just heard from H.W. Brands' "Masters of American Enterprise" audio course. He says that the percentage of the population employed in agriculture (and feeding the rest of the population) has gone from 80% in the late 18th and early 19th century to 5% in the 21st century (up to today). That reduced demand for labor in agricultural areas essentially allowed us to have the nice big industrial revolution that we had.
/off topic
For those who were pondering whether quality of life has really improved in this country over the last 200 years, I offer the above as evidence that it has.
"Hamilton is really a Colossus to the anti republican party. Without numbers he is an host within himself. They have got themselves into a defile where they might be finished but too much security on the republican part will give time to his talents and indefatigableness to extricate them. We have had only middling performances to oppose to him. In truth when he comes forward there is nobody but yourself who can meet him. His adversaries having begun the attack he has the advantage of answering them and remains unanswered himself. For God's sake take up your pen and give a fundamental reply to Curtius and Camillas" - Thomas Jefferson to James Madison