From: U57567@uicvm.uic.edu (Myself!!!)
Newsgroups: alt.amateur-comp,talk.politics.theory,comp.society.futures
Subject: Re: FAR future programs
Date: 9 Nov 92 23:11:30 GMT
 <Bwzy6p.Iv@ucunix.san.uc.edu> <BxD9xx.MF3@ccu.umanitoba.ca>
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

In article <BxD9xx.MF3@ccu.umanitoba.ca>, browns@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Stuart Brown)
says:
>
>In article <Bwzy6p.Iv@ucunix.san.uc.edu> balesej@ucunix.san.uc.edu (Eric J
>Bales) writes:
>>In article <1992Oct30.085923.20896@ugle.unit.no> ta@itk.unit.no (Trond
>Andresen) writes:
>>>
>>>I think it is neccessary now to discuss programs for the FAR future, as
>>>a prerequisite for not going in the wrong direction when it comes to short-
>>>term proposals. Here follow some thoughts about such a far-future program.
>>>If it seems like a high-tech scenario of communism in the classical sense,
>>>that's quite intentional.
>>
>>>Here is my scenario: A society where a small percentage of the
>>>population oversee automatic processes in manufacturing and commerce.
>>>The industry will be running nearly without
>>>human work-hours. So what do the other 95% do? Before I try to answer that
>>>
>>
>>How are you going to pay these people?  That would be awefully expensive
>>for anyone other than the wealthy!
>>
>>>- Researchers in anything from flowers to chess to astronomy to
>>>  masks of the South American indians. A very big part of
>>>  the population in university-level education and research.
>>
>>Who pays for all these university-level researchers?
>>
>
>Howdy, I'm new to this group, so please excuse and breach of local customs...
>
>The above scenario reminds me very much of the Star Trek TNG universe
>where Jean-Luc answers the question "What will I do now?"
>by saying: "This is the 24th century.  All basic needs are provided for
>all citizens by automated manufacturing centers.  You can look forward
>to doing whatever interests you."
>
>If society can painlessly produce all the basic needs for everyone, then
>why this obsession with how each and every person can pay for thier needs
>and get paid for thier choice of work?
>
>What would happen if we did away with money for most transactions in America
>right now?  Well first of all, everyone would rush out and grab lots of TV
>sets and fancy foods and snazzy cars etc.  So we have automated factories
>that churn this stuff out  untill everyone  has all of the ordinary stuff
>that they want.
>
>Next, no one who hates thier job goes to work any more.  Good riddance!
>                        Cheers -Dr. Stu
>--
>Stuart M. Brown                             If you can remain cool when all
>U. of Manitoba, Dept. Plant Science         Around you are in panic,
>Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA
>browns@ccu.umanitoba.ca            Then you surely misunderstand the situation
     Maybe I just a crusty cynic, but I think a LOT of people would just
become "couch Potato's", and never do ANYTHING but consume the free
goodies.  While this is OK for them, would the system be able to deal
with 4 BILLION spuds?  I mean, how many people would WANT to make stupid
sitcoms to keep them entertained?  :-)  :-)
    It would make a good Star Trek episode though, "Planet of Lethargy".
:-)  :-)  :-)  :-)
Al