Futuria Fantasia, Summer 1939 Read online

  THE REVOLT OF THE SCIENTISTS

  By Technocrat Bruce Yerke

  The editor of this magazine has asked me to prepare an article about acertain subject that has hitherto been totally lacking from the pages ofall the scientifictional magazines, and which, with an article in aspecial LASFL publication, burst a bombshell on the science-fictionalfield, and at the same moment punched an irreparable hole in theWollheim-Michel gas bag. Being recognized as the _science-fictionTechnocrat_, I was asked to do this by Mr. Bradbury, who is himself anew recruit to OUR ranks. Since many of the readers of this magazinehave all read the article in the first _MIKROS_, I feel that I can takea few liberties to go ahead.

  When you write an introductory article to a generally new audience onTechnocracy, you have to start from the ground up. You cannot assumethat the readers know a whit about it. This, eventually, becomes boringto the _teacher_, for he is so exuberant and anxious to take up otherphases of the subject that he soon gets tired of merely telling of thefirst stepping stone in a vast subject.

  This article will cause much interrogation. It would be impossible forme, in this limited space, to give you all of the facts I wish to, but Ido suggest that everyone who is interested should go to the nearestTECHNOCRACY INC. section (and there are many in every large city) andreceive some of their literature, or write to CONTINENTAL HEADQUARTERSif you live at some flag stop, and get their pamphlets.

  If you have ever heard of Technocracy, it was probably through somegarbled news item, and thus you, like I myself, no doubt have or had avery wrong opinion of this organization. It is perfectly legal in allrespects, being incorporated under the laws of New York State. It istechnically an educational organization, and many authorities have toadmit that Tech's twenty week study course is the equivalent of a 4 yearcollege experience. The fact that its speakers are allowed to talk inpublic high schools, and hold meetings in the same place, shows thateven the carefully censured school board is, at least, not opposing it.

  Technocracy is not an organization that wants to overthrow the Americangovernment, but only an org. that will step in when the present PriceSystem collapses. (At this point it MUST be taken note of that PRICESYSTEM is not a different word for the Marxian definition of CAPITALISM._Price SYSTEM_ is merely a term designating _any system using a_circulating medium of exchange for the distribution of goods andservices.)

  If you go to a Technocracy section, they will show you a chart that willconvince you that this _system_ will collapse before 1945, probably1942. This chart shows the economic trends of this nation from its birthto 1939, and also the amount of extraneous energy and human toilrequired to produce and maintain this economy. When you leave, you'll beconvinced, don't worry. I have not the time nor space to do that here.The end of the Price System is inevitable, and when it comes you are notfaced with the choice of taking Technocracy or Socialism, Communism orany other 'ism'. You are faced with a choice of Tech. or _chaos_, out ofwhich the majority of us will not emerge--alive.

  This nation is so highly inter-dependant, that the failure of one phaseof its industrial sequence would mean the ultimate collapse of the wholecountry. If the electric power of New York was shut off, the city wouldburn down in approximately SIX HOURS! This, because of the rate firesbreak out. If the transportation system were shut off, all of the foodin the city would be gone in six days, water would be so polluted thatdisease 10,000 times worse than the Black Plague would break out.

  I shall not spend time telling you why we are faced with economicdisaster, for thousands of examples can be had at a Technocracy section.We shall, for the purposes of this article simply assume that thecollapse is near, within a matter of days.

  All of the large business institutes, and Technocracy as well, will knowwithin 100 days of the time of the ultimate end, when all stocks andbonds depreciate to zero and the financial structure of this country isdue to fall.

  At this time Technocracy will do, what is termed in colloquial Americanslang--"TURN ON THE HEAT!" At the present time Technocracy is notinterested in forming a large organization, formed of emotionalbutterflys. It is constructing a functional group; a nucleus of peoplewho know the subject to a T, and who will be prepared to act in theforming of a skeleton control until things are reorganized. In the lastfive years Technocracy has not used one bit of emotional fly paper, buthas presented its whole plan in plain facts, and in as hard-boiled andunentertaining a manner as could be done without insulting thelisteners. Nevertheless Tech. is the fastest growing organization in thenation. (except the relief organization)

  Under Technocracy people will be classified in a set of probably 100industrial sequences, according to their work. Each of these is known asa FUNCTIONAL SEQUENCE. Let us trace the work of one sequence from thebottom to the top.

  The nation will be divided into regional divisions, determined bylatitude and longitude. In each division there will be the variousoffices of whatever sequences are operating in that division. (eachsequence of the 100 different ones will not necessarily appear in everydivision, though) Some will only have three or four or even as high asfifty. In this division we will find, say, a factory, for the productionof steel, and thus there will be a steel sequence in this division.(This is how it will work in all sequences, essentially.)

  The lowest classification will be the man doing the simplest job. We'lluse as our example one who works a welding torch. All the welding torchworkers in that factory will be under a foreman. He will be elected outof the torch workers as the one most efficient, working the best, who ismost popular, though the latter factor's not so influencing as it is atpresent.

  All the foremen in that area division will elect a divisional head offoremen of torch welding crews. Out of all the head foremen of torch andsteel dumping crews and the other numerous distinct functions, therewill be elected a division head. The division heads then elect anational head. The national heads of all the other sequences will formwhat will be known as the Continental Control, electing an executivedirector, merely a presiding officer, with not even the powers of thepresent president. He is answerable to, not answered to.

  All the other basic functions will have essentially the sameorganization, and it is anticipated there will 90 to 110 of them. At thepresent time 93 have been worked out. The one thing of note is thatthere will not be more than FOUR offices between Armando Pinccio of thegarbage truck crew and the head of the national sequence of wastedisposal.

  The thing of most interest to all interested is the method of purchaseor what is referred to as the MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE. In the TECH THERE ISNO MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE, THERE IS ONLY A METHOD OF TECHNOLOGICALACCOUNTING.

  The means whereby you will get a new razor blade or a malted milk is tobe known as DISTRIBUTION CERTIFICATES or ENERGY CERTIFICATES. Thesecertificates, issued to every person on this continent every 30 days,will be good only for one person and no other. Since they will be ableto purchase as much or, I should say, since they will give theindividual purchasing power of 20,000 dollars per year, each will haveeverything he needs. Stop right now and think what this means in thereduction of crime. These certificates cannot be stolen, and since everyone will have all they can possibly use, there will be no need to steal.

  With the technological development on this continent at present it ispossible to turn out, at peak production, enough for every person tohave a terrific abundance, and to do this, with a little mechanizationdone in the period of a month or so, it is only necessary for every ableindividual male, twixt ages 25 & 45, to work fours hours a day, 4 days aweek, for 165 days a year--to keep this production turning over. If anyone works more, someone else works less. So draw your own conclusions.

  All things under the TECHNATE will be controlled, numbered by a modifiedDEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM, as used in libraries now. The energy certificatewill have on its face the sex, age, job, place of birth, address, wherehe works, and the worker's number, all recorded by this system. Thereare also places for purchases, four, to be exact. When one makes up hismind to buy s
omething, he goes to the store (an example) and buys a pairof shoes. By means of a photoelectric machine (already developed) thesalesclerk would punch out numbers and the certificate would come outbearing, neatly perforated: "34.46...11.E.728.../..H76302../...Z.97321.../...205...21.05." All this means that the article was a pairof low shoes, made by the leather sequence, that they were men's shoes,width E, last number 7, and style 8. Second series of numerals are theserial numbers of the machine, third is the number of certificate, thelast the date and time.

  At the end of the day the total lever of the machine would be pressed,and all the numbers, styles, etc. would be separated into totals (likenickels and dimes in a coin changing machine). The totals would then beteletyped to the divisional H.Q. of the leather sequence where it wouldbe registered. This affords a continuous inventory of the wholecontinent. The following day, as many shoes as had been sold in thecontinent would be manufactured.

  Many things, such as housing, transportation, medical care, recreation,education, etc. are furnished by Technocracy. One can easily see what asecure life this affords every citizen, and what a boon it is toscientific research.

  I said that I wouldn't mention many things that would solve questions inthe reader's minds, but if all questions are sent to the editorialoffices we will contrive to open a forum.

  In closing remember these few things. Technocracy is NOT a political orrevolutionary movement. It is 100% American. It cannot work anywhere buton the American continent, because only here have we the necessarytechnological developements, the necessary trained force of technicians,and the necessary resources to institute an economy of abundance inplace of an economy of scarcity. Technocracy is the only salvation whenthe Price System fails. It is not a political theory, but the next stateof civilization. It is the best form of democracy ever conceived. Itfurnishes security, education, protection, and all that goes, with it tothe people of the American continent. It is not in its formative state.It could be installed on a seventy-two hour call. The only reason why wedon't have it now is because YOU are still duped to believing there isanother way out.

  Take Technocracy, or take----chaos!