On October 28th, 2015, the Republican presidential candidates are going to be having a "debate" at my school about "key economic issues such as jobs, taxes, the deficit, and the health of the U.S. economy." My first response to that was, "In other words, the traveling troupe of clowns, bigots, and legalese jugglers is coming to town. (-__-)" Here is the second:
Let's examine the issues, though. Most jobs in our highly technical age are, quite frankly, outmoded and unnecessary. Right now, we have the technology to automate a vast majority of service and manufacturing jobs throughout our entire global society; to provide access abundance to the necessities of life for every human on the planet. Anything redundant, dangerous, or simply pointless--due to the fact that the only reason it exists is to perpetuate the monetary/market system; i.e. it contributes nothing meaningful or beneficial to society or oneself (money is a nothing thing and doesn't count as meaningful or beneficial)--can be done by a machine or a set of machines more efficiently, more precise and accurate, and much faster than any human or group of humans. The machines don't need breaks, pay, pension, health insurance, etc., and can work all day, every day without complaining; machines have no feelings. In fact, dark factories, i.e. where production occurs in buildings that require minimal to no lighting, very well could (and possibly should) be the future of manufacturing.
Of course, the first set of questions regarding this idea include, "So, what are people going to do if they don't have jobs?" Sometimes one of my favorite things in communication happens and I don't even have to answer because the person asking answers for me, apparently unaware of the fact that I'm perfectly capable of formulating a response: "Sit around and do nothing all day?" Hmmm... (Wryly scratching head while preparing the usual response), "Is that what you're going to do?" (-__-) Well, of course not! You're not like everyone else, are you? You're not like those degenerates in society that would just "do nothing", are you? No! You're "different" and..."special." (You're not.)
Maybe you’re thinking, “what if machines decide that Earth would be much better without humans and (DUN-DUN-DUUUUN!) destroy us all?” Well, I have a few points to make about this one. First, as I stated above, machines have no feelings. So, if we smashed our cell phones in front of 20 other cell phones, they're not going to immediately revolt and say, "We're going to get you (and your little dog too)!" No; we have to remember that there's ALWAYS a human being pushing the button to drop the bombs or pull the trigger. Second, we're perfectly capable of destroying each other as we ever-so-nonchalantly continue that barbarous tradition while simultaneously patting ourselves on the back for inching our societal way toward all-inclusive human and environmental health and well-being; awarding each other trinkets and uttering hollow gestures in an almost tragic display of vapid, unquestioning reverence. The only difference now is that we abuse our technology making it far easier to streamline the process; i.e. whereas the process of reloading a rifle two centuries ago took an inordinate amount of time in terms of potential for being killed while in battle, now we can literally cut people into a pile of pieces because of the number of rounds being fired at once; or liquify their bodies with chemical agents; or even disintegrate their bodies with nuclear weapons. Third, not only do we have this technology, WE USE IT! All the while we venerate ourselves for our supposed civility and exceptional quality of “the most intelligent species on the planet.”
Other questions that follow typically are the result of disbelief that such a system is even possible. “Isn’t that Utopia?” “Do you really think ‘they’ll’ ever let it happen?” And so on. While it would be fun to pick apart these questions and explain why they imply that no thought at all was put into them, I have more issues to cover. Realizing I’ve written this much already about one topic and that some people have probably stopped reading by now, I’m moving on.
So, what about taxes, the deficit, and the health of the U.S. economy? Well, by now it is hopefully glaringly obvious that in an automated manufacturing/distribution society, there would be no need to even have money and thus no taxes, no debt, no barter, and no servitude of any kind. If we can’t realize that infinite growth CANNOT happen on a finite planet, then we are a sorry lot indeed that will likely drive ourselves into extinction while dragging most of the rest of the species on this majestic world that we are destroying with us! What we need is a GLOBAL economy based upon resources—not money. When you have an economy based upon money (which is really just a 5 letter word for “debt” in a fractional reserve banking system), human health and well-being are secondary at best—if they’re even taken into account at all outside of the context of maintaining a populace of obedient low-wage workers. It’s just a modern form of slavery. In fact, it would likely be fair to say that more slavery exists today than ever before in humankind’s history. It’s just an evolved form of slavery—economic slavery. Physical slavery requires slaveowners to feed, clothe, and house their slaves. Economic slavery requires the slaves to feed, clothe, and house themselves.
Ask yourselves the question, “if we continue to segregate ourselves as a species with imaginary, yet socially constructed and reinforced, racial categories, social statuses, and national boundaries, what can we really expect out of such a system?” Our similarities FAR outnumber our differences. An otherworldly species, observing ours, would likely find our differences TRIVIAL at best. We are so much alike it’s almost laughable when people cling on to these traditionalized, antiquated notions. Almost; but then the realization sets in that these people are dead serious, refuse to even listen to any other ideas, let alone accept them, and really are stupid enough to move us into a position of setting into motion and possibly accelerating our self-destruction. Of course, this brings me to the Republican Party.
We are talking about a political party that consists of people whose majority DENY EVOLUTION—an accepted scientific FACT corroborated by mountains of evidence supporting the theory that describes it; people that think it’s right for old, rich, white men to control women’s bodies; people that think the entire planet should be open for privatized, war-profiteering, monopolizing, tax-break-laden, poverty-wage-paying, multibillion-dollar, multinational, pension-stealing, infinite-growth, environmentally devastating business; people that constantly try to use the Bible as a basis for their political and governmental decisions which completely undermines the very principles established by our Constitutional Republic; namely, that religion has NO PLACE in government. THAT LAST ONE ALONE should requisite disqualification from public office. It’s quite counter-Constitutional to swear an oath on a Bible; this unofficial tradition MUST end. If you swear an oath TO the Constitution, then swear ON the Constitution—not the Bible. But, you want me to respect that? As a future scientist, you want me to respect science deniers? NEVER! However, don’t misconstrue what I’m saying here. I FULLY support everyone’s Constitutionally protected rights—in this case, the right to say and believe anything. However, that in NO WAY means that I actually have to respect what anyone says OR believes. Beliefs and statements are NEVER exempt from criticism, ridicule, mocking, etc! The moment exemptions are made because someone’s feelings got hurt or they were “offended” is the moment freedom of speech dies.
So, I’m not offended by this taking place at this University; I don’t want it to not happen or anything. I’m simply pointing out the Socratic irony in having a debate comprised mostly of science-deniers at one of the top science and engineering universities in the country.
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