I prefer self checkout for several reasons. And I agree with you - let’s pay workers a living wage. That being said, I don’t put 100% of the financial reponsibility on employers. I feel we (the consumers) need to acknowledge that employers aren’t the sole beneficiaries in this system. Translation; I want a living wage policy to be implemented but also I realize that this means an increase in the price I pay for (some) services. With this in mind, maybe I should receive a discount for using self checkout. Alternatively, how would you feel about being charged directly for the amount of time required for a “checker” to scan your items & ring you up? For example if you paid $0.33/minute this would cover a $20/hr wage.

Disclaimer: This “shared responsibility” can’t be universally applied across all goods & services; employers don’t get carte blanche to pass 100% of these costs onto the consumer. A living wage policy might entail some sort of agreed upon “max profit” policy or “open books” / transparent finances approach.

The article puts the “overwhelmed” statement in auotes but doesn’t attribute it to anyone, & later in the article states > the rise in respiratory illnesses has not resulted in patient loads that exceed hospital capacities.

Passing on misleading/clickbait headlines should be discouraged IMO. Also, why are articles being posted without any comments or justification/reasons for sharing the article?

Well even if it doesn’t bring about the 2nd age of steam for mankind, it should at least be inspiration for a new RP genre - the merging of lasers + evaporation = Cyber + Steampunk?