More Robots

What if kings were not decided by bloodline, but by skill? What if the first emperor was chosen through trials and tests rather than through the luck of being born into his father's family? Perhaps, had the most skillful of men been able to take the throne would the world be different.The idea of turning imagination into reality is a captivating thought, but that reality is often oppressed because it is seen as unnecessary by the majority of people. Congressman are given positions of power and influence because of either money or connections. Very few are given such power through their knowledge or skill in a particular subject. But what if all congressmen were actually scholars? A technocracy, according to Neil Postman, would be must more efficient than a congress.

"Those possessed of such gifts could not be denied political power and were prepared to take it if it were not granted," according to Postman (3). Why would we want to spend years on minor problems in the world when we could solve the bigger picture in a heartbeat? Many people given the positions of power are often lacking the necessary skill or knowledge to positively affect their environment. A technocracy, however, does not have to do completely with the people. A world run by technocracy is not what you want. A world that uses technology to augment their needs and wants is more and sufficient. A master should never be outdone by his apprentice, and the same way a computer should never overpower its programmer.

According to Postman, the people in a technocracy would not allow their technologies to "provide philosophies by which to live." Instead, they "clung to the philosophies of their fathers" (4). To him, that is a technocracy. Using intelligence as a gateway to the future is a positive light on the subject, but it was frowned upon because the majority of the masses were not capable of comprehension at such a level. The masses wouldn't want to be led around by the most intelligent of beings because free will is not defined as that. However, a technocracy, is different from a technopoly. A technocracy is still somewhat of a democracy. If a technopoly is introduced, Aldous Huxley's ideas embrace a reality. Technopoly would mean that there would be only one definition of everything according to those who wield the power. "Technopoly, in other words, is totalitarian technocracy" (5).