Post Capitalist Free Market Society (Part VI) - Government Under Technological Democracy

In a capitalistic society, like that of the Unitedof time to explore, extract and market the
States, the capitalist elite controls the economyproduct. However, the proceeds left after paying
through which it controls or highly influencesfor all expenses of operation go to the public
government activities concerned in any way withtreasury. This constitutes the market value of oil
its interests. The matter of power struggle,itself as a resource.
against this elite, by the people or the3. The National Health and Education Council. In a
government has become more complex andtechnological democracy health care and education
difficult where no single country has either theare two of the most important services in
authority or the power to regulate or investigatesociety. They are the basic requirements for
the total operation of a multinational or globalsocial democracy and socio-economic
corporation.development. It is obvious that without a healthy
While a state is responsible to its citizens and rulesand educated society no progress can be
with their apparent consent, a global corporation isexpected. In an advanced technological society
a strict autocratic system ruled, not by itsalso, more than any other, the increase in the
shareholders as it should have been according tolevel of opportunity heavily depends on the level
its charter, but by a self-appointed andof knowledge one possesses. This increase in the
self-perpetuating members of the board oflevel of opportunity not only relates to the area
directors holding, collectively, only a small fractionof work and production but also to the area of
of the corporate assets.enjoyment of life. For example, one cannot
Under a socialistic system, like China, the state isproperly enjoy and appreciate an opera, classical
controlled by a single political party which ismusic, or modern art unless one has knowledge
controlled in turn by a few leaders selected andand understanding of it. It can materialize only
elevated to their position by the initial or seniorthrough education. Thus, it is imperative that
members of the party. The socialist constitutionhealth care and education be fully available to
usually prescribes a government by a democraticevery individual and the work schedule in society
political process. But the execution of this electoralbe established accommodating education into
process is tightly controlled and supervised by thework hours making education continuous in both
party through its instrumentalities. Consequently,areas of technical-professional as well as
the government and the society end up to besocial-cultural knowledge. Cultural and humanistic
governed by a few holding leadership positions.education must be made mandatory because it is
Thus, under both capitalist and socialist systems,absolutely necessary to maintain and advance a
individual freedoms, economic as well as political,civilized democratic society. This class of education
has remained at the mercy and consent of aincludes the areas of humanities such as art,
very small group which controls the means ofmusic, philosophy, literature, history, foreign
production and distribution. All this suppression haslanguages, and the normative aspects of social
occurred because the individual, under bothsciences. Equality of opportunity in health care and
systems, has been deprived of equality ofeducation can be materialize if they are available
opportunity as his basic human and democraticto the public free of charge. The money to
right. The government has played a substantialprovide these services comes from the Public
role in installing and maintaining the subjugationConsumption Fund.
process making the individual life under eitherThe first stage of education is the most crucial in
system exploitive.preparing children for a democratic way of life, for
The main objective in a technological democraticits comprehension as well as enjoyment. Four
society is to grant, protect and foster theyears of semiformal yet full time education is
principle of equality of opportunity, to allow andrequired from age three to seven. It constitutes
provide opportunities for individual freedom andof grades one to four. It is quite similar to
dignity in a way that no one is exploitedpreschool education in the ex-Soviet Union, which
economically, socially or politically. To accomplishwas considered by many experts to be the best
this goal, the control over the means ofin the world, but more systematic and more
production and distribution need to be taken awaycomprehensive. Then comes eight years of full
from the capitalist class and transferred to thetime general education from age eight to
working class by the application of the principlesfourteen, consisting of grades five through twelve.
of equality of opportunity and prohibition of unjustIt embodies three major areas of knowledge:
enrichment.social sciences, humanities, and general sciences,
Consequently, under technological democraticincluding mathematics, each area receiving equal
system, the role of the state becomes quiteattention in the curriculum. Six years of at least
distinguished from those under capitalism orone foreign language is required.
socialism. The government like any individual inAfter graduation from this stage, every person
society is obliged to abide by the principle ofworks part-time while studying part-time, from
equality of opportunity. Thus, government cannotage 15 up to 22. He then receives his higher
keep anything secret or classified. If secrecy iseducation degree (equivalent to over an M.A. in
allowed, it would increase the government'sour present higher education standards) and
opportunity to the detriment of the public. Thisstarts full time work- 34 hours per week.. From
openness extend everywhere in government andthere on until retirement at the age 52, each
all other institutions in society. In the area ofindividual is required to continue a part-time
national security, as long as other nations haveeducation- 6 hours per week, making education a
not complied with the principle of equality ofpart from 40 hours work per week. The content
opportunity, secrecy may be kept. But the termof this education is equally divided between cultural
of national security must be applied in its narrowand professional-technical depending on the nature
and strict interpretation. In technologicalof employment and job skills requirement. The
democracy, a major part of present nationalmain purpose of this education is to keep one
functions are transferred down to the privateup-to-date in his area of specialty and expand his
production firms; other parts such as maintenanceknowledge into other desired specialty areas, as
of law and order, supervision and enforcement ofwell as to improve worker's cultural and intellectual
the principles and standards governing theknowledge for a better understanding of human
production of goods and services, are all trustedsociety, better enjoyment of life, and maintaining
on local and regional (states in U.S.) governments.of democracy.
There are no line functions left for the nationalHowever, one is not restricted to this requirement
government except for defense and foreignin his education. This is only the minimum
affairs. Defense and intelligence establishments arerequirement, and one remains free to pursue his
also highly curtailed since the U.S. will not interfereeducation further and to advance his knowledge
in internal affairs or economic resources of otheras he desires. Under the required education, a
sovereign nations. Because, in technologicalworker generally reaches the level of knowledge
democracy, the essence of strength is not inequivalent to a Ph.D. within ten years, and his
military or intelligence power, but in the strengtheducation beyond that for the next 20 years,
of its citizens' minds and commitment to peacewould place the worker at the level of
and the extension of democracy and prosperitypost-doctorate compared to the present
to other lands. No conquering force can rule in aknowledge levels. The basis for this concept is
technological democratic society without beingsimple. Democracy can be established and
assimilated into its way of life and culture in asustained only in a society where people are fully
short time. Any conquering force is sooninformed and intellectually advanced. It must be
conquered by the conquered society. Essentially,noted that one's education does not stop with
therefore, there is no need for military forces.retirement. Free education is available to everyone
The elimination of military establishment, a vestigefor life.
from barbarian past, marks the disappearance ofHealth Care. This essential service is rendered
the greatest evil haunting humanity and its wellthrough the Technodem, local and regional health
being for centuries.care agencies. The framework of their functions
Many may consider this allegation idealistic evenand required minimum standards are established
utopian. These are people who have failed toby the National Health and Welfare Commission. All
study and understand the essence of technologicalhealth care costs are paid through the Public
democracy governed by the principle of equalityConsumption Fund. The primary concern will be
of opportunity. One cannot judge or evaluate thepreventive medical services. The Technodem will
characteristic of this system by employingbe of great help in making such services available,
presently available bases for evaluation. A properproviding preventive and general healthcare,
judgment requires a thorough knowledge andmedical information, and general medical
understanding of the system. Faulty judgmentsconsultation at home to every member of
are often the result of haste or shallowness ofsociety. Particular attention are given to individuals
information about the subject matter.with special and enduring health problems and
The National Governmentthose retarded or disabled.
In Technological democracy, all line functions of4. International Affairs Council. This body has the
the national government are eliminated except forimportant function of establishing the framework
defense and foreign affairs. The size of the latterfor international relations covering all its aspects:
two is also substantially reduced. All current vastpolitical, economic and social. These basic policy
bureaucracies of the regulatory agencies anddirections are based on the principle of equality of
those concerned with education, health care,opportunity. With non-democratic nations the
welfare programs, social security, commerce,policy directions are based on reciprocal
justice, federal courts, transportation, agricultureopportunity, gradually moving toward equality of
and other similar departments are discarded. Theopportunity as those nations incorporate
whole Congress and its vast staff institutions aretechnological democracy in their system.
also eliminated.[1](For detailed description of thisHowever, there are certain areas that equality of
concept see the references at the end of thisopportunity will govern from the beginning,
essay.)regardless of the nature of the other nation's
The Structure and Functions of the Nationalsystem of operation. For example, in the
Government. The traditional representativeeconomic area, equality of opportunity does not
system of government and its correspondingallow the exploitation of natural and economic
institutions employed at the present are farresources of another nation. Because, under this
outdated for the fast-moving and self-containedprinciple, all natural resources of a nation belong to
technological society. The system presented herethe people of that nation and ultimately to the
is quite new and fundamentally different. It ispeople of the world. Thus, these resources cannot
difficult to visualize the exact structure andbe owned or exploited by any private or public
function of a future system. Here only its basicsector. Any firm, private or public, extracting
features are considered. In real practice, somematerial resources under a lease contract, is
modifications may be required.entitled to the full cost of operation and
Considering the early stages of the system,marketing. I takes from the revenues all such
besides defense and foreign affairs, the maincosts and pays the balance, which is the actual
functions of the national government areprice of the extracted resources, to the public
concerned with studying and establishingtreasury at home or to the country where the
economic, social and political standards, all basedresources were located. This policy, would actually
on the principle of equality of opportunity.encourage the firm not to exploit the workers
Therefore, there are national legislative andbut pay wages comparable to the duties of the
executive branches but substantially differentwork. It will cause a substantial increase in real per
from the present forms.It cannot be establishedcapita income of the working class in developing
by reforming the old system; it requires a fullcountries.
transformation.Labor is another important national resource and,
The National Legislative Branch. This is the mainbased on the principle of equality of opportunity, it
policy making body of the national governmentcannot be exploited within or outside the country.
and consists of a National Legislative andThus, the production institutions in a technological
Coordinating Assembly, Economic and Productiondemocratic society, cannot exploit labor in another
Council, Health and Education Council, Internationalcountry if they move a part from their
Affairs Council, and Judicial Council.production of goods and services to that country.
1. National Legislative and Coordinating Assembly.The wage system should be comparable to the
This body has three main functions. First, it giveslevel established by the domestic system stored
final approval to regional laws. It has amendingin the Technodem. One important effect of this
authority, as it is the guardian of the principle ofpolicy would be the elimination or substantial
equality of opportunity. This task is actuallyreduction of outsourcing of production and labor
minimal. When a regional legislation is made, it isand healthy operation of the domestic economy.
fed into the Technodem. If any part from it isThe equality of opportunity also mandates that no
contrary or in conflict with the national standardsimportation of goods or services would be allowed
or laws, it is pointed out by the Technodem and isif they are produced by exploited labor compared
corrected by the regional authority accordingly.to the importing country's domestic standards.
Assembly also functions to provide uniformity inOne strongly beneficial effect of this policy would
regional laws when they relate to the applicationbe substantial increase in wage system in
of the principle of equality of opportunity.countries which want to do business with a
The second function of this body is to approvetechnological democratic nation while exploiting
and coordinate the framework for actionstheir labor force.
proposed by all national councils. The main purposePursuing equality of opportunity also foster
is to streamline conflicts that may arise from theinternational peace which is a dominant
application of frameworks designed by differentcharacteristic of democratic life where every
councils.claim is resolved by reason and logic than by
Third, this body receives, amends, and approvesforce. Simply, any military or non-military action
the national budget submitted to it by the Nationalcausing death, injury or destruction of property
Executive Council; and approves the frameworkdeprives the victim of equal opportunity for
of functions proposed by the International Affairsenjoyment of life or property. Therefore, no
Council for the operation of the executive branchcountry can give or sell arms to another country
including defense and foreign relations.where such action is to increase the military
2. The National Economic and Production Council.opportunity of one country over another or
This is the most important national institution. Itsbecome a tool for suppression of its own people.
job is mainly to establish economic standardsUnder the present systems, that of the U.S. in
based on the principle of equality of opportunityparticular, arms sale appears to be the biggest
and enact a framework of regulations for theirglobal business. No democracy can be achieved by
implementation. The main functions of the councilforce and armament since it is inherently
are:a. To establish a framework for the rate ofundemocratic. The military is presently used to
return for the use of capital. This is done throughsustain undemocratic conditions benefiting well
a commission and corresponding staff. It is similararmed nations such as the United States.
to establishing of the interest rate.b. To devise aMilitarism, regretfully, is a remaining vestige from
framework for position classification and wageour savage and barbarian past. No nation can be
system through a corresponding commission andconsidered civilized while ascribing to militarism.
staff.c. To develop a framework for the use ofAs a result of international application of the
the natural resources and return of revenuesprinciple of equality of opportunity, ultimately, the
from such use to the public treasury or the Socialnational boundaries will disappear, not by force or
Consumption Fund. It must be noted that underintimidation but by the consent of the people
technological democracy, the principle of equalityinvolved. As each nation develops toward a
of opportunity prohibits the ownership of any parttechnological democratic system, it will become a
from the natural resources by any individual orsister state with those already enjoying such a
institution. All these resources belong to the peoplesystem. The world will gradually move toward a
as a whole. The Natural Resources Committeeuniversal technological democracy where national
establishes a framework for the use of naturalcontradictions, in a highly culturally diverse world,
resources and lease of land and resources. Anywill disappear. A permanent world peace will be
direct revenue from such use goes to the publicachieved for the first time in history.
treasury. For example, oil resources may beDr.
leased to an oil company for a determined period