Saving a bit of time but losing humanity

Re Retailers using new tricks to keep the lines moving, Dec. 27 Thirty years ago, I toured the Arctic Cat snowmobile plant in Thief River Falls, Minn. They were extremely proud to demonstrate how the recently installed robotic welders could each do the work of four employees on the line. But, as an older worker said, “Amazing, yes, but robotic welders don’t buy snow machines.”

Self checkouts do not support families, or help university students save for their tuition. Please consider that fact when presented with these “timesaving” devices. Sometimes in our haste to embrace the newest and best technology, we forget that others depend on us. Catherine Virgo, Barrie