Technocracy is a proposal for a steady-state, post-scarcity economic system. It is intended for industrialized nations with sufficient natural, technological, and human resources to produce an economic abundance. Primarily this refers to the continent of North America, but may also apply to other areas today as well if they have acheived certain minimum criteria.
What is the purpose of a Technocratic society?
The stated goal of a Technocratic society is to provide the highest standard of living possible to all citizens for the longest period possible.
What are the attributes of a Technocratic society?
There are many, but a few can be summerized here:
A thoroughly scientific method of control of the technology of our continent.
Democratic controls for all non-technical issues and decisions.
Maximum freedom for all citizens in terms of latitude of purchasing power and personal rights
Removal of methods of scarcity economics such as money, debt, value, and interest.
The elimination of political decision-making from technical affairs
Replacement of these methods with an empirical accounting of all physical resources, products, and services (called Energy Accounting).
Productive capacity many orders of magnitude higher than currently possible, without requiring any new equipment.
Decrease in human labor required to produce these amounts through proper use of automation.
Highest possible standard of living for ALL citizens in terms of income, housing, health care, education, and leisure.
Sustainable resource management through conservation and industrial efficiency
Elimination or vast reduction of various social ills, such as poverty, crime, pollution, insecurity, and disease.
Is Technocracy a form of government then, or something else?
Technocracy is not a form of government. Governments are organizations designed to produce laws with the intention of controlling its citizens to some extent. Technocracy is instead a method of control of technology. It outlines the basic operating characteristics for a high-energy, abundance-producing society. Some areas may simulate social control, but instead of enforcing laws to achieve this, Technocracy instead is designed to provide an environment that will facilitate behavior conducive to this operating environment. People will have as much personal freedom, or likely even more, than in any modern democratic society. The technical controls of Technocracy are not interested or designed to interfere in people's lives, only instead to provide the best standard of living with which people can enjoy life.
People often have many misconceptions about Technocracy and for many reasons. Hopefully this website will help clear some of those up.
What is the basis of Technocracy?
All forms of government have their roots in political ideology, philosophy, and opinion. By contrast, Technocracy has its roots purely in science. It could even be defined as a technology, as in the application of science to serve a social goal or problem, rather than a political idea (more on this here). It was developed by scientists, engineers, and other specialists seeking to understand the role of high-energy technology in our society (such as electrical generators, large earth movers, manufacturing plants, and fast, motorized transportation). This study, which encompassed over 10 years, divulged important information about how technology was affecting our society, and where these trends would take us. Their research resulted in the following three conclusions:
The first is that there exists on the North American Continent a physical potential in resources to produce a high standard of goods and services for all citizens, and that the high-speed technology for converting these resources to use-forms in sufficient volume is already installed, and that the skilled personnel for operating it are present and available. Yet we have unprecedented insecurity, extensive poverty and rampant crime.
The second conclusion of Technocracy is that our current economic and political model, (called the Price System) can no longer function adequately as a method of production and distribution of goods. The invention of power machinery has made it possible to produce a plethora of goods with a relatively small amount of human labor. As machines displace men and women, however, purchasing power is destroyed, for if people cannot work for wages and salaries, they cannot buy goods. We find ourselves, then, in this paradoxical situation: the more we produce, the less we are able to consume. (more on this here)
The final basic conclusion is that a new distributive system must be instituted that is designed to satisfy the special needs of an environment of technological adequacy, and that this system must not in any way be associated with the extent of an individual's functional contribution to society.
The upshot of all this is that the scarcity model of the Price System worked well when there existed a natural scarcity. However, now that technology and rich natural resources have eliminated scarcity, an entirely new economic model is required. We have changed our methods of production from an argrarian model to a technological one, thus we must also change our method of distribution from an agrarian model to a technological one.
All these are possible by unleashing the productive capacity of the North American continent. The research that has determined this has been thorough and in-depth. However, rather than requiring everyone interested in Technocracy to first obtain several advanced university degrees, the material has been condensed into smaller and easier portions by Technocracy Inc.
So what is Technocracy Inc.?
Technocracy Inc. is an educational and research institution founded for the purpose of continuing the work of the original developers of Technocracy, and educating the public about their conclusions and designs. It is non-profit, non-political, and has no purpose outside of research and education. It can be compared to a university or college in this respect. It teaches classes, gives seminars and lectures, and produces both printed and electronic material in order to better help people understand Technocracy. It receives no government or corporate grants, and is entirely volunteer-driven. Once you have a better understanding of Technocracy, perhaps you too will join us in helping to build this bold new vision.
Where does one go from here? How do I learn more?
There are several online resources available to you right now, and much printed material available on request. Here is a brief list of suggestions for where to start learning about Technocracy. Choose whatever interests you, but feel free to explore the web sites and ask questions in our forums. Many people find Technocracy a confusing subject, and it may take some time before you really begin to grasp the idea. But always remember that there is no substitute for taking the Technocracy Study Course, or if you are unable, then proceed with a custom program recommended by a Technocrat. They will be able to find out what additional information you need to know and recommend material for you.
Why Technocracy is necessary
To better understand the problems that arise when trying to employ a scarcity-model economy in a technological society, try these articles:
Here is a list of printed material that would be useful in learning Technocracy:
The Technocracy Study Course - While no longer officially in print, copies can be ordered through the Edmonton section of Technocracy. It is the most detailed book on the subject, if a bit outdated. Still it is the best resource for fully understanding the premises behind Technocracy's analysis, conclusions, and designs. It covers 23 lessons and subjects ranging from basic science, geology, engineering, biology, psychology, medicine, architecture, and sociology. There is an electronic version also available upon request. Simply send a message to Kolzene in the forums, or the forum Private Message feature.
Technocracy: Technological Continental Social Design - An updated and condenced version of the Study Course, it is nonetheless a great overview of all areas of Technocracy. It is available in print from CHQ or electronic (PDF) form.
Other useful Technocracy Resources
And finally here are some resources that you will find useful for answering questions and finding more specific information:
The Technocracy Forums - Here you can ask questions and participate in discussions ranging from economics to technology.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Contains nearly every question ever asked about Technocracy. Organized so that it can be used as mini-course in Technocracy.
Topics and Issues - If you have an area you are particularly interested in, such as the environment or education, here is a list of articles you will find interesting, arranged according to topic. (Coming Soon!)
Technocracy Portal Page - Contains news, picture galleries, presentations, articles, and the Technocracy Forum.
Beginner's Articles - A list of articles designed to make learning certain concepts in Technocracy easier.