Technology is making capitalism obsolete (evolution, America, service, science)

[GeneCosta]

Gus Hall - The science and technology revolution

The scientific and technological revolution is changing our world at a dazzling pace. The new technology is molding the future.

[snip]

For example, General Motors just announced that with the use of computers they have cut six months off the 36 months it used to take to design, develop and produce a car.

They eliminated a whole layer of engineers, designers and administrators, and cut 12 percent off the production cost of the vehicle. Because workers never see this savings, the end result is bigger profits for the stockholders and even bigger bucks and bonuses for the executives.

[snip]

New and exotic technologies are being developed at the same time the more established ones are perfected. New technologies exploit different physical processes like biomechanics or quantum mechanics in order to create a whole new level of speed and miniaturization. Not all new technologies will be revolutionary, but some certainly will be.

The direct cause of the next crisis of capitalism will be the mass replacement of human labor by new technology, by computers and robots. At a certain qualitative point, this process will set off a crisis of the whole system, one that capitalism cannot solve. It is one more reason why capitalism is the past and socialism is the future.

[snip]

Socialism is a scientifically planned and operated economic system that eliminates private profits. It eliminates private corporations. It is a system owned and run "of, by and for" all the people. It is a humane system concerned first and foremost with meeting the needs of the people.

The workers are temporarily being shuffled into the expanding service industry, but as this happens workers are becoming more disenfranchised with the crappy jobs they're expected to live by. Automation has been put aside as corporations export the labor requirements to East Europe, Latin America, and Asia. But as these regions industrialize and look to man their own service industry, they will be forced into a corner: either automate or return to industrial jobs to the West.

The internet has already shot a hole through the concept of 'intellectual property." Apple boasts about there being over a billion downloads since its itunes service first started, but over a billion songs are downloaded illegally each month. Television technology too allows for people to break the idea of "private airwaves."

Socialism is riding the back of technology. The two alternatives are having a George Jetson job where all you do all day is push a single button, or being deprived of the capital to survive and revolt.

[Scuba Pete]

The internet has changed the entire paradigm of the Scuba Industry. In the not too distant past, the aspiring diver relied on their shop "mentor" for advice about HOW to dive and what gear to buy. The shop invariably told them that the "other" brands were rubbish and you would surely die if you used them.

Now they can pop onto www.ScubaBoard.com and find out about all sorts of gear and even diving philosophies. The magazines are even becoming obsolete as I can provide more exposure for a LOT LESS. Out of the blue, I have become a player in the Scuba Industry JUST BECAUSE I own a domain name. Pretty stinking funny and way fortunate for me!!!

[GeneCosta]

Originally Posted by Scuba Pete

The internet has changed the entire paradigm of the Scuba Industry. In the not too distant past, the aspiring diver relied on their shop "mentor" for advice about HOW to dive and what gear to buy. The shop invariably told them that the "other" brands were rubbish and you would surely die if you used them.

Now they can pop onto www.ScubaBoard.com and find out about all sorts of gear and even diving philosophies. The magazines are even becoming obsolete as I can provide more exposure for a LOT LESS. Out of the blue, I have become a player in the Scuba Industry JUST BECAUSE I own a domain name. Pretty stinking funny and way fortunate for me!!!

That's very cool. If you don't mind me asking, how much money did it take to set up ScubaForum and get a steady flow of visitors? I imagine nothing comparable to the cost of having a full shop.

[Nick Soapdish]

Is Gus Hall the writer of a bad science fiction movie? If not, he could be.

[GeneCosta]

This forum is for liberals only. If you have a problem with the article and are not a Leftist, there are other forums to address the problem in. Thanks.

[Shadow Wolf]

I do agree that technology will force either a complete revamp of capitalism, or be it's demise.
But, I do think it would also take a new form of socialism if that is too be the future.

Honestly, if technology replaces most jobs, I foresee the repair techs and programmers becoming the new leaders of society. You can theoretically, (and probably eventually) efficiently run society on machines alone for survival, but not everything will be able to be replaced. Repairmen and Programmers will become so important to society, they will be the ones making the rules.

[GeneCosta]

Originally Posted by Luke Wolf

I do agree that technology will force either a complete revamp of capitalism, or be it's demise.
But, I do think it would also take a new form of socialism if that is too be the future.

Honestly, if technology replaces most jobs, I foresee the repair techs and programmers becoming the new leaders of society. You can theoretically, (and probably eventually) efficiently run society on machines alone for survival, but not everything will be able to be replaced. Repairmen and Programmers will become so important to society, they will be the ones making the rules.

Sounds like something similar to socialist Technocracy where people recognized for their profession are the ones who decide how and the people decide what.

[Sunstone]

Any dream of history following an ideology is misplaced.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Capitalism is based on people spending money.
No spend = no Profit
No profit= no job
No Job= no spend
=Financial collapse.

If only a small percentage of workers are required to make the world go round...
where is the Spend coming from.... etc etc.etc.?
A new system will be required, but it will not be socialism as we know it.
Socialism has been based on the balance of capital and labour.
This balance could not exist.
At the moment a persons place in society is based on money.
In a future as portrayed ... there would be few essential workers and many consumers.
Your value to society will be the special skill you can offer either to Provide the needs society.
Or the ability to entertain society... arts...sporting skills... or pure entertainment.

It is unlikely such momentous change would come with out strife.
Nor is the physical future of the earth so assured that such an outcome is even likely.