Progress At A Cost

"I guess that's progress." A grocery checker said that the other day while I was in line at the store.  A group of checkers was standing a few feet from us appearing as though they were receiving some sort of training. 

"What's that?" I asked the checker. She said the group was being taught how to operate machines that will allow customers to check their own groceries. Self-serve checking hadn't come to this store until now.

I'm usually among the first to appreciate how technology makes our lives easier. The checker told me the store will have to let six people go-- all replaced by a machine. 

Airlines have been doing this kind of thing for years. They want you to electronically check-in instead of talking to a ticket agent. They want you to use their website to book flights and vacations and in some cases, they'll even charge you fees to talk to someone on the phone when you can't get the website to work. 

So, should we feel sorry that 6 grocery store clerks are losing their job. Maybe not but when we think of them as symbols to our society, it begs our attention. 

Is this progress? Are we just being old fuddy duddies? What do you think?

~Steve and Rebecca (currently your live morning show anchors.)