Eric Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google, warned recently that a broad range of jobs that once seemed beyond the reach of automation are in danger of being wiped out by technological advances. As the so-called information technology is the main culprit, this is now colloquially known as the IT threat. Wow! Although all this sounds like the stuff bantered about in the Sixties and Seventies, it is brought back to life by the fact that high unemployment figures threaten to survive the economic crisis, which appears to be petering out in both America and Europe. The IT threat is the explanation of the conundrum, as many jobs have become obsolete over the last five years. In short, it is hardly a threat any longer. It is here already. And the only remedy Schmidt can recommend is for governments to open companies that depend on, well, menial labor. The working class is back, or so it appears. And so is the good old revolution. Remembering the Sixties and Seventies, that was the argument among the most ardent supporters of the working class. About my age, they will be pleasantly surprised by the executive chairman of Google.