TECHNOCRACY is science in the social field. The Encyclopedia Americana has said: `Whatever the future of Technocracy, one must fairly say that it is the only program of social and economic reconstruction which is in complete intellectual and technical accord with the age in which we live.' The late H.G. Wells stated: `Essentially Technocracy is a soundly scientific effort to restate economics on a purely physical basis.' The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines Technocracy as an `Organization and management of a country's industrial resources by technical experts for the good of the whole community.' These definitions all say much the same thing but in different words.
The studies of Technocracy embrace the entire fields of science and industry. Biology, climate, natural resources, and industrial equipment all enter into the social picture. Technocracy is dealing with social phenomena in the widest sense of the word, including not only actions of human beings, but also everything which directly or indirectly affects their actions. No one can expect to have any understanding of our present social problems without having at least a panoramic view of the basic relationships of these essential elements of the picture. The purpose of our studies is not to give any person a comprehensive knowledge of science and technology, but rather to present an outline of the essential elements of these various fields, as they pertain to the social problem, in a unified picture. The important thing, at this stage of social development, is to get a comprehensive picture of the problem as a whole, rather than of its parts as unrelated scraps of knowledge. Technocrats learn through their Study Course to see this Continent as it really is and to understand how it must be operated functionally so as to result in the most benefit to all, including future generations yet unborn.
Technocracy originated in the winter of 1918-19 when Howard Scott formed a
group of scientists, engineers, and economists that became known as the
Technical Alliance--a research organization. Howard Scott was chief engineer of
this group. The
By 1930 the group had become known as Technocracy. In 1933 it was
incorporated under the laws of the State of
From Thales of Miletus on through such landmark names as Galileo, Kepler,
Technocracy's survey of the economic situation in North America leads to the conclusion that there is in development a process of progressive social instability; that this process will continue until the instability reaches the limit of social tolerance, and that there then will have to be installed on this Continent a social mechanism competent to meet the needs of its people. Technocracy finds further that the day when social operations on this Continent can be based on a system of 'values' has passed, and that it is now necessary that there be applied in the social field the quantitative methods of physical science.
Technocracy proposes that the North American Continent be operated as a self-contained functional unit under technological control. This control would operate the area under a balanced-load system of production and distribution, where under there would be distributed purchasing power commensurate with the resources and the continuous full-load operation of the physical equipment, with the guarantee of a high standard of living, equality of income and economic security to every inhabitant, with a minimum of human toil.
Technocracy Inc. (the organization as such) is a means to an end, the end being to assist with the installation of a social system whereby the Continent may be operated according to the needs and wants of its population. These desires will be expressed through a scientifically operated social system so that an abundance of goods and services can be produced and distributed with a minimum of human effort. To insure the continuation of that high energy social system, a careful husbanding of natural resources and an intelligent strategy for continental defense will be necessary.
At this stage the objectives of Technocracy are, first, the education of the people of North America to a recognition of the reasons behind the social crisis and, second, the organization of all those willing to study and interest themselves into an informed, disciplined and functionally capable body whose knowledge and ability can be called upon to prevent chaos in North America at that time, now imminent, when the Price System can no longer be made to operate.
The emblem of Technocracy (shown on the Technocracy Home Page) is the Monad, an ancient generic symbol signifying dynamic balance. It is the symbol of our Organization and of our outlook and body of thought. Technocracy is not a monetary scheme. It is, in a sense, a plan; covering so many avenues of function that it could be aptly described as a completely new dimension of thought. Moreover it is not a fixed plan; it is an overall, flexible, dynamic, skeletal plan. We cannot expect to settle everything for all the future generations now.
Technocrats are not high-pressure salesmen. We want as members only those
persons who come into our Organization through conviction. All we ask is to be
heard, that our analysis be examined carefully, critically, from a strictly
factual standpoint. We insist that the facts cannot be hidden for very much
longer. As conditions in our social mechanism become increasingly unstable,
more and more people will be looking for an answer to their problems. When they
come to us we are here ready to explain our findings and our program.
Technocracy Inc. is the only organization with a prepared plan, ready to be adopted
when enough citizens of
Today we have poverty in the midst of plenty. Food is stored and destroyed to keep up prices while people on this Continent go hungry and are in want. North Americans must install a new social system which can distribute abundance to all citizens. Albert Einstein once said: 'We are at the dawn of a new world. Scientists have given to men considerable powers. Politicians have seized hold of them. The world must choose between the unspeakable desolation of mechanization for profit or conquest, and the lusty youthfulness of science and technique serving the social needs of a new civilization.'
You could be amongst those people who are aware of the instability of our present social mechanism; and maybe you feel that it is about time you did something about it. But it is quite possible that you do not know anyone who is a Technocrat, and have no idea how to go about obtaining more information. A letter sent to Continental Headquarters or to some other address shown on this leaflet will bring you more information and possibly put you in touch with a group of members that is within a reasonable distance from you.
You may agree in part or fully with Technocracy's program, in which case it
is your duty and obligation to yourself and to those you care for to study this
Organization and its body of thought. Join with the Technocrats in their
efforts to enlighten the citizens of
We urge you to keep in mind that this job of enlightenment of the population must be done; it is no small undertaking, and the time is running short. Although Technocrats have availed themselves of the method, they cannot hope for success without support. Further, it is no more their task than it is that of yourself or any other North American to get the job done.