Questions on impact of technology

It constantly amazes me that no one questions politicians or economists about the impact of modern technology on economic matters.

I marvel at the naive acceptance of monitory explanations for the causes of our miseries. While serious fiscal error did contribute and still contributes greatly to the miser of many, it is the technical genius, ability and achievement of others that is the root cause of our present economic ills.

We live in the best economic time that ever existed. Most of the economic ambitions of centuries have been realised; we can produce all for our needs and desires in great abundance and don’t have to work very hard anymore. But we live under an ideology which states the opposite; ie that we must grow, produce more and work harder and longer. That era is gone; banished by the wonders of technology which also enhances lifestyle beyond the imagination of just a few decades ago.

The era of growth has been superseded by an era of enough or grossly more than enough if we do not restrain our new-found ability to produce in abundance. The era of work has been superseded by an era of automation where machines do most things better, cheaper, more consistently and in greater quantity than humans ever could.

But rather than rejoice and celebrate our 21st century release from shortage and incessant hard work we cling to a monetary ideology that evolved in very different times to catere for very different economic conditions.

Nothing done by Government here or abroad addresses the real economic problems we face; i.e. to adapt to abundance and provide employment through working less. Governments deliberate in denial and impose austerity that squeezes whatever little income people still possess to shore up a monolithic tyrant of decayed monetary ideology on the verge of inevitable collapse. Their approach cannot succeed.

Technological impact on economics terrifies politicians and economists and no journalist has yet challenged them on their silence on the subject.

I challenge them; especially to candidates vying for Europe. What impact if any has advanced technology on economics in areas of production, growth and employment? How can business survive in surplus supply conditions? How do we create more employment in the face of increasing automation. Has the “jobless” investment by Intel any significant message that we should consider?

Padraic Neary

Tubbercurry

Co Sligo.