jobs in more labor-intensive professions while creating new jobs that rely more on technology and don't require as many people. also, whereas in the past new technological advances would wipe jobs out in one industry at a time, for example, in agricultural, this time around it's expected to hit across the board. and if all of this is true, it could mean that the u.s. must one day fundamentally begin to change the way this economy works. higher unemployment would likely mean a drop in consumer spending. that's the engine that drives our economy. and it could also mean that the people rely more on government social safety nets while there are fewer tax dollars coming in and our deficits are exploding. also, "fortune" magazine suggests that mainstream economists are complete lly oblivious that jobs may never come back to our economy. it doesn't bode too well for the rest of us, does it? here's the question, what if high unemployment is here to stay? go to cnn.com/caffertyfile.