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Text

The following is a
audio reading of one of
Jacque Fresco’s Essays.

Resource-Based
Economy
(Part 3 of 4)

In a resource-based economy, the human
aspect would be of prime concern, and
technology would be subordinate to this. This
would result in a considerable increase in
leisure time. In an economy in which
production is accomplished primarily by
machines, and products and services are
available to all, the concepts of "work" and
"earning a living" would become irrelevant.
But if the human consequences of automation
are unresolved, as they are today, then it
renders all the advances of science and
technology of much less significance.

The utilization of today’s high speed and large
capacity computer systems, otherwise known
as the "Information Superhighway" or
Internet, could assist us in defining the
variables and parameters required for the
operation of a resource-based economy that
conforms to environmental needs. Over-
exploitation of resources would be
unnecessary and surpassed.

Many people believe that there is too much
technology in the world today, and that
technology is the major cause of our
environmental pollution. This is not the case.
Rather, it is the abuse and misuse of
technology that should be our major concern.
In very simple terms, a hammer can be used to
construct a building, or to kill another person.
It is not the hammer that is the issue, but how
it is used.

Cybernation, or the application of computers
and automation to the social system, could
be regarded as an emancipation proclamation
for humankind if used humanely and
intelligently. Its thorough application could
eventually enable people to have the highest
conceivable standard of living with practically
no labor. It could free people for the first
time in human history from a highly
structured and outwardly imposed routine of
repetitive and mundane activity. It could
enable one to return to the Greek concept of
leisure, where slaves did most of the work and
men had time to cultivate their minds. The
essential difference is that in the future, each
of us will command more than a million
slaves - but they will be mechanical and
electrical slaves, not fellow human beings.
This will end forever the degrading
exploitation of any human being by another so
that he or she lives an abundant, productive,
and less stressful life. Perhaps the greatest aid
in enhancing the survival of the human race is
the introduction of cybernation, the electronic
computer, and artificial intelligence, which
may very well save the human race from its
own inadequacies.

A resource-based economy calls for the
redesign of our cities, transportation systems,
and industrial plants so that they are energy
efficient, clean, and conveniently provide the
needs of all people both materially and
spiritually. These new cybernated cities would
have their electrical sensors' autonomic
nervous system extended into all areas of the
social complex. Their function would be to
coordinate a balance between production and
distribution and to operate a balance-load
economy. Decisions would be arrived at on
the basis of feedback from the environment.
Despite today’s mania for national security,
and subsequent intrusions into everyone’s
personal affairs, in a world-wide resource-
based economy where no one need take from
another, it will be considered socially
offensive and counterproductive for machines
to monitor the activities of individuals. In fact,
such intrusion would serve no useful purpose.

To further understand the operation of
cybernation in the city system, for example, in
the agricultural belt the electronic probes
imbedded in the soil would automatically keep
a constant inventory of the water table, soil
conditions, nutrients, etc. and act
appropriately without the need for human
intervention. This method of industrial
electronic feedback could be applied to the
entire management of a global economy.

All raw materials used to manufacture
products can be transported directly to the
manufacturing facilities by automated
transportation "sequences" such as ships,
monorails, trains, pipelines, and pneumatic
tubes, and the like. All transportation systems
are fully utilized in both directions. There
would be no empty trucks, trains, or transport
units on return trips. There would be no
freight trains stored in yards, awaiting a
business cycle for their use. An automated
inventory system would be connected to both
the distribution centers and the manufacturing
facilities, thus coordinating production to meet
demand and providing a constant evaluation
of preferences and consumption statistics. In
this way a balanced-load economy can be
assured and shortages, over-runs, and waste
could be eliminated.

To be continued on
The Venus Project Essay -
Resource-Based Economy
(Part 4 of 4)
For more information visit
www.thevenusproject.com
www.thezeitgeistmovement.com

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