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C00002 00002	NEW GOALS FOR TECHNOLOGY
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NEW GOALS FOR TECHNOLOGY


	This  paper  put   forth  a  number  of   propositions  about
technology  and present  society, supports them  to some  extent, and
draws some conclusions about policy changes that will make technology
a greater benefit to society.   A final polemical section attempts to
refute some rival views.

	We start by giving some propositions:

	1.   Technology has been  a great benefit  to society, and it
will continue to benefit society even if the proposals  made here are
not adopted.

	2. The development of technology is uneven; in some branches,
technology follows closely  behind the  scientific developments  that
make new  technology possible.   In other  branches, there are  great
lags.   These lags are partly  due to the tradition  of the branch of
technology, partly due to defects in the organization of society.

	3. In  the near  future,   the most  important technology  is
computer and automation technology.

	4.   It would  be desirable  for everyone  to have  an income
sufficient  for the basic necessities even  without working.  America
is still too poor for this, but doubling the  GNP would probably make
it possible.

	5. Provided the world  population can be kept from increasing
by more than a factor of five, the whole world can attain double  the
American per capita GNP  and maintain it indefinitely.   We don't say
how long it will take, but 100 years is a my guess and 50 years would
be possible if the policies proposed in this paper were adopted.

	6. The Chinese cultural revolution complaint that  scientists
and technologists are not sufficiently  motivated to serve the people
is  warranted  in all  countries.    Their solution  to  the problem,
however, would not be a solution in more developed countries.
[It turned out not to be a solution in China, because the Maoists
were even less interested in serving the people].

	7.   A  system in  which  the fear  of mass  unemployment  is
banished is possible and necessary for progress.  [Not a correct
formulation].

	8. People whose  interests are adversely affected by progress
should be bought out even if  they don't have a property interest  in
the present  legal sense.   This included  tenants, workers who  will
lose  jobs,    even  union  officials  whose unions  will  disappear,
legislators  whose  jobs  are  to  be  streamlined  away  by  merging
governmental bodies.  This will  be expensive, but bribery is cheaper
than tolerating endless delays.