The issue of the functional distribution of income has become fashionable again in light of the the decline in the labour share over the past 2-3 decades, and the macroeconomic implications that flow from it. Considering our look at the history of the theory of functional distribution, and Ricardo's varying positions on the machinery question , what can we say about this current issue in terms of the history of economic thought (and contemporary explanations as covered in the background readings)? Are there any old ideas that are suddenly new again? Are there lessons for economics in terms arising out of how the dominant approach to distribution theory has fared against recent developments.